This project increases active forest management in north dakota by increasing the numbers of forest stewardship plans promoting active forest management, increasing the numbers of landowners receiving…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 1-Northern Region awarded $590,736 to North Dakota State University, operating as the North Dakota Forest Service, on June 25, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to increase active forest management across North Dakota.

The award funds expansion of forest stewardship plans promoting active forest management, increased technical assistance delivery to landowners, new technical assistance partnerships with soil conservation districts and consulting foresters, and forest management training events. The project addresses forest health issues, insects, and diseases on federal, state, and private lands through monitoring and outreach activities. The funding also provides financial assistance to build community forestry program capacity by supporting grant projects and leveraging private investment in forest management practices.

Performance runs through May 31, 2031, with all work conducted in North Dakota. As a state forestry agency, North Dakota State University's Forest Service division is an eligible recipient under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program, which supports nonfederal forest management and conservation on approximately 500 million acres of private and state-controlled forest land nationwide.

This project increases active forest management in north dakota by increasing the numbers of forest stewardship plans promoting active forest management, increasing the numbers of landowners receiving technical assistance, increasing the numbers of technical assistance partnerships with soil conservation districts and the numbers of consulting foresters providing technical assistance, and by increasing the number of forest management training events. This project reduces the impacts from forest health issues, insects, and diseases on federal, state, and private lands as measured by the numbers of acres monitored and the numbers of forest health contacts reached through outreach and education activities. This project provides financial assistance to increase the capacity of community forestry programs to implement practices as measured by the number of grant projects funded, the amount of grant awards, and the value of project investments. This project will take place in north dakota.