Project Grant 25DG11094200246

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Eastern Region (Region 9), awarded a consolidated project grant of $2.67 million to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on September 11, 2025, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664). This award supports five integrated forestry initiatives through June 30, 2030: the Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Health Protection Program, Urban and Community Forestry Program, State Fire Capacity Program, and Volunteer Fire Assistance Program. Through this cooperative agreement, the department delivers direct technical and financial assistance to non-federal land managers, including private forest landowners, municipalities, and producers across Indiana to implement forest management practices that enhance forest health, reduce wildfire risk, combat invasive forest pests and diseases, and support sustainable timber production.

The grant facilitates Indiana's efforts to set cooperative management priorities and implement on-the-ground conservation activities on state, private, and municipal forest lands. These efforts directly benefit both Indiana's forests and the broader health of the nation's forest resources. As the state's primary natural resources agency, IDNR leverages this federal funding to provide comprehensive forest stewardship support to diverse stakeholders, strengthening local forest ecosystems and rural community resilience through evidence-based management and restoration activities aligned with Indiana's Forest Action Plan priorities.