The DNRC Stewardship Program delivers around $2.5 million annually in financial assistance to help private forest landowners manage the wildfire risk on their forest land. Through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service - State and Private Forestry, this funding:
- Supports active forest management
- Enhances public benefits from private forests
- Provides important jobs in the forest products sector.
Reduce Wildfire Risk
Financial assistance to reduce wildfire risk is made available to individual forest landowners through regional partnerships with organizations and local governments. Please connect with your local partner, listed below, to learn more about available programs.
- Fire Adapted Kootenai: Lincoln County
- Montana West Economic Development: Flathead County
- DNRC Plains Unit - Service Forester: priority areas of Sanders County
- Lake County Conservation District: Lake County
- Swan Valley Connections: Swan River Watershed
- Clearwater Resource Council: Greater Seeley Lake area
- Frenchtown Rural Fire District: portions of Frenchtown, Huson, and Ninemile
- Bitter Root RC&D: Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties
- Blackfoot Challenge: Blackfoot River Watershed
- Tri-County FireSafe Working Group: Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis & Clark Counties
- Gallatin County Emergency Management and Fire: priority areas of Gallatin County
- Stillwater Valley Watershed Council: Stillwater Valley
- Red Lodge Fire Rescue: portions of Carbon County
- Lower Musselshell Conservation District: Musselshell County and Golden Valley County
- DNRC Eastern Land Office - Service Forester: portions of Custer County and Carter County
Please contact your DNRC Service Forester if a local wildfire risk reduction program is not listed for your area or you have questions about managing your forest land.
Resilient Forest Landscapes
Engaged private forest landowners are a critical component of a healthy Montana forest. The following organizations provide resources for forest landowners to help them make their sustainable management goals a reality:
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Focused Conservation provides funding to targeted areas for established conservation practices.
- Find your local Conservation District and learn about the programs offered in your area to address local conservation needs.
- MSU Extension Forestry provides educational resources, workshops and trainings in support of private forest landowners.
- Montana Tree Farm System is focused on providing forest owners the tools they need to keep their forests healthy and productive.
- Montana Forest Owners Association works to create policies that support private forest landowners.
- Contact your local DNRC Service Forester to learn about the resources and assistance that may be available in your area through the Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program.