These funds will be used to increase active forest management for healthy and productive forests, to reduce wildfire risk across michigan, and will contribute to shared stewardship through five…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded the Michigan Department of Natural Resources $6.005 million under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on August 25, 2026, for forest health protection, wildfire risk reduction, and shared stewardship across Michigan through five programs. The award funds the Michigan Cooperative Forest Health Protection and Forest Health Monitoring Core, which supports prevention, outreach, monitoring, and management of forest health problems including oak wilt suppression and hemlock woolly adelgid biocontrol evaluation. The Michigan Forest Stewardship Program provides technical assistance from professional foresters to family forest landowners managing private forest lands. The State Fire Capacity Program addresses fire management needs, fire preparedness, hazardous fuel treatment, wildland fire training, initial attack suppression, and fire compact opportunities. The Urban and Community Forestry Program delivers technical expertise and financial assistance to communities for tree and forest management, planning, planting, care, and Tree City USA administration. The Volunteer Fire Capacity Program equips rural fire departments and covers shipping costs for federal excess personal property. Performance occurs in Michigan with a period extending through June 30, 2031. The award is a Project Grant providing assistance to the state forestry agency as the recipient.

These funds will be used to increase active forest management for healthy and productive forests, to reduce wildfire risk across michigan, and will contribute to shared stewardship through five programs. (1) the michigan cooperative forest health protection and forest health monitoring core funding supports prevention, outreach, monitoring and management of forest health problems to avoid or reduce forest health impacts. OAK wilt suppression funds support mitigation of the impacts of OAK wilt on OAK forests. HWA biocontrol funds support evaluation of a long-term management tool to prevent hemlock mortality due to hemlock woolly adelgid. (2) the michigan forest stewardship program funding is to help family forest landowners manage, protect, and enjoy their forest. The program encourages the long-term stewardship of private forest lands by connecting landowners with professional foresters for technical assistance. (3) the state fire capacity program provides the opportunity for michigan to address critical fire management needs and to develop fire preparedness capabilities in order to respond to fire prevention, wildland urban interface, hazardous fuel treatment, wildland fire training, initial attack for fire suppression, and to support fire compact opportunities. (4) the urban and community forestry program provides technical expertise and financial assistance to communities related to tree and forest management, planning, planting and care, and tree city USA administration. (5) the volunteer fire capacity program provides financial, technical, and related assistance to michigan for equipping rural fire departments and using funds for shipping costs associated with obtaining federal excess personal property.