This grant will fund the puerto rico forest stewardship program as approved by congress

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry awarded the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources $110,000 on August 10, 2026, under the Forest Stewardship Program (CFDA 10.678) to deliver technical assistance for active forest management on private forest lands in Puerto Rico.

The award funds expansion of technical assistance capacity to serve over 200 existing program participants and support new participants. The program focuses on forest fire prevention, natural resources conservation, energy sources, disaster recovery, and expansion of forest-related recreational activities on nonindustrial private forest lands.

Performance runs through September 30, 2030, with all work conducted in Puerto Rico. The Forest Stewardship Program partners state forestry agencies with private landowners to provide planning and management information, connecting participants with technical advice, market opportunities, and financial assistance for forest health and resilience.

The program provides essential support for delivering technical assistance to increase active forest management in private forest lands focusing on forest fires prevention, natural resources conservation, energy sources, disaster recovery, and expansion of forest related recreational activities. The main objectives for this fiscal year's grant is to expand technical assistance capacity to provide service to the over 200 program participants while supporting new program participants.