A partnership between the DNRC and USDA Forest Service - State, Private, and Tribal Forestry provides grant funding in Montana to address forest health issues. The DNRC Forest Stewardship Program works with community partners including:

  • Non-profit organizations
  • Conservation districts
  • State agencies
  • County and municipal governments

The DNRC Forest Stewardship Program collaboratively develops with community partners competitive applications to secure project funding. As a landowner, if you are interested in Stewardship Grant Programs, please connect with our local partners here.

Grant funding administered by the DNRC Forest Stewardship Program is currently available for:

Restoring forest landscapes
The Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program provides funding to implement watershed level, forest-based projects that conserve and manage working forests, protect forests from threats, and enhance public benefits from private forests.

The Montana Forest Action Plan Grant Program provides funding to implement cross-boundary projects that align with priority areas identified in the Montana Forest Action Plan, Statewide Wildfire Risk Assessment, or a local Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Projects should fall into one or more of the following categories: improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, or support urban forests. 

Managing wildfire risk
The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program provides funding to mitigate risk from wildland fire within the WUI through supporting hazardous fuel reduction, fire-adapted ecosystem restoration, homeowner information and education, as well as community wildfire planning.

The Hazardous Fuels Reduction Grant Program provides funding to reduce the risk of wildland fire to resources and property in high-priority areas, which may result from a wildland fire encroaching from adjacent National Forest System lands. The application period is always open, and proposals are reviewed quarterly. 

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program provides funding for revision or development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) or the implementation of projects described in a CWPP. This grant program supports the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy; eestablishing fire adapted communities, restoring resilient landscapes, and fostering safe and effective response to wildland fire



Supporting conservation education
The Conservation Education Grant Program provides funding to support forestry and natural resource education activities for youth (pre-K through 12th grade) and professional development opportunities for educators in the field of conservation education.