Activities for the award will be divided between urban and community forestry, forest stewardship, and forest health protection programs

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R5-Pacific Southwest Region awarded $216,500 to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Finance on August 5, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to support urban and community forestry, forest stewardship, and forest health protection activities in the Marshall Islands through February 10, 2028.

Urban and community forestry work includes collection and replanting of endangered agroforestry trees, replanting of coastal trees in areas impacted by erosion from rising sea levels, and community outreach and educational events at local schools focused on sustainable agroforestry practices and the role of urban trees in shade provision, wind barriers, and food security. Forest stewardship activities overlap with this community engagement mission. Forest health protection activities encompass surveys and field assessments for coconut rhinoceros beetle, inspection of high-risk locations for infestations with destruction of breeding sites, and assessment of coconut palm health to develop recommendations for response actions.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Finance, as the awardee, administers the grant and executes the activities. The assistance type is a project grant.

The urban community forestry and forest stewardship activities include collection and replanting of endangered agroforestry trees, replanting of coastal trees in areas impacted by erosion from rising sea levels, and reaching out to community members and local schools to engage in educational events regarding sustainable agroforestry and the importance of urban trees as shade, wind barriers, and food security. Forest health protection activities include conducting surveys and field assessments for coconut rhinoceros beetle, inspecting high-risk locations for coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations and destroying breeding sites, and assessing coconut palm health to report recommendations for response actions.