Forest Stewardship

Effective beginning 06/04/2025:  This website, and all linked websites under the control of the agency is under review and content may change.

What is the Forest Stewardship Program?

The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) provides support to State forestry agencies to assist sustainable, private forest land management through forest management planning, technical assistance, tree improvement, seedling production, tree planting, timber stand improvement projects, and conservation education. Grants are normally awarded to State Foresters or to partners on a State’s behalf.

Our Work

In Hawaiʻi, the FSP is advised by an active Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee. The state Forest Stewardship program provides state cost-share funds for landowner implementation of individual Forest Stewardship plans for restoration or active management of lands such as these. Forest Stewardship program authorities for forest management on state lands have been the basis of several competitive “Redesign” and “Landscape Scale Restoration” grants to Hawaiʻi for watershed management, forest health, and native species restoration.

The United States-affiliated territories, commonwealths, and Freely Associated States also receive Forest Stewardship grants to support management planning and technical assistance to private landowners, typically delivered through extension programs and the provision of tree seedlings and other supplies for forest and agroforest management. As in Hawaiʻi, program authorities for forest management on territorial and commonwealth lands are important, and “Redesign” grants have supported projects addressing climate change in Yap, conservation of rare tree species in Guam, and other projects.

In California, the FSP works directly with CAL FIRE and other partners to support forest stewardship management planning, technical assistance, and conservation education. These efforts are coordinated in part with The California Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee.​