Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Region 1 – Northern Region, awarded $590,736 to North Dakota State University (operating as the North Dakota Forest Service) under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on June 25, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. The award funds active forest management initiatives across North Dakota through multiple service delivery mechanisms, including development and promotion of forest stewardship plans, expansion of technical assistance to private landowners, and establishment of partnerships with soil conservation districts and consulting foresters. The project also supports forest health monitoring and outreach activities designed to address impacts from insects, diseases, and other forest health threats on federal, state, and private lands.

In addition to technical assistance, the project strengthens community forestry capacity by providing financial assistance to implement on-the-ground forest management practices and conducts training events for landowners and forestry professionals. Success is measured through specific performance indicators including the number of forest stewardship plans promoted, landowners receiving technical assistance, technical assistance partnerships established, acres monitored for forest health issues, outreach contacts reached, grant projects funded through the program, and total value of community forestry project investments. As a state-controlled land-grant institution, North Dakota State University's Forest Service division serves as the prime recipient and primary implementer of this federally funded forestry assistance initiative.