The cross boundary wildfire hazard mitigation program helps reduce plants and brush that can fuel wildfires near national forests

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R8-Southern Region awarded Texas A&M Forest Service $425,000 on August 10, 2026, under the State & Private Forestry Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program (CFDA 10.697) to implement cross-boundary wildfire hazard mitigation on non-federal land in Texas.

The award funds hazardous fuel reduction projects incorporating thinning, mechanical treatments, strategic fuel breaks, and prescribed fire treatments across landscapes spanning multiple ownership boundaries. Work prioritizes wildland urban interface areas posing the highest risk to communities and areas identified in applicable statewide forest resource assessments, shared stewardship priorities, or strategies as mutually agreed to by the state forester and regional forester. Texas A&M Forest Service will work with nearby landowners to identify and remove fire hazards near national forests.

Period of performance runs from August 10, 2026, through August 9, 2031. Place of performance is Texas.

The state forestry agency will work with nearby landowners to find and remove these fire hazards. This grant supports hazardous fuel reduction projects that incorporate treatments (thinning, mechanical treatments, strategic fuel breaks, and prescribed fire) in landscapes across ownership boundaries on non-federal land. Priority is given to wildland urban interface areas that pose the highest risk to communities and any priority areas identified in applicable state-wide forest resource assessments (state forest action plan), shared stewardship priorities, or strategies, as mutually agreed to by the state forester and the regional forester.