Do you own woods in rural Minnesota?
Money may be available to share the costs of your woodland stewardship projects. Taking care of your woods benefits all Minnesotans by growing future forests which improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, and support a healthy forest products economy.
What is cost share?
Woodland cost share is financial assistance that helps private landowners practice good forest stewardship. Typical projects range from 3 to 20 acres, but smaller or larger projects may be eligible as well.
Whether you want to plant trees, improve forest health, reduce invasive species, or enhance wildlife habitat, DNR stewardship foresters can help you plan and access funding. It all starts with a phone call or email to your forester.
Explore Available Cost Share
Landowners can take advantage of several cost shares, depending on your goals and location. Explore the options below to find the program that best fits your needs. The Woodland Improvement Cost Share covers widest range of stewardship activities. The Tree for Tree Cost Share and What A Match Tree Planting Cost Share only helps cover costs related to planting trees.
- Woodland Improvement Cost Share
- This cost-share program supports woodland management projects across Minnesota.
Consult a DNR stewardship forester early before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval. They will write a project plan and help you sign up.Most projects are eligible for up to 50% to 75% reimbursement, depending on the type of work and location, though the final amount may vary. Because funding is limited each year, it’s best to reach out well in advance of your project.
Eligibility requirements
- Private woodland owners in rural areas
Eligible projects include:
- Tree plantings and costs related to planting - consider purchasing seedlings from the State Forest Nursery.
- Invasive species control
- Woodland improvement
- Tree protection
- Wildlife habitat enhancement
- Forest recreation development
- Tree for Tree Cost Share
- The Tree for Tree cost share supports reforestation on private woodlands in counties impacted by the Line 3 pipeline construction in Minnesota. Funding for Tree for Tree was provided by Enbridge to fulfill requirements for the Certificate of Need issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. It supports the replacement of trees removed by the project and helps replant healthy forests across Minnesota.
Landowners can apply starting July 2025. Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses and will also receive an incentive payment of $500 per acre planted. Cost-share requests are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Consult a DNR stewardship forester early before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval.
Eligibility requirements:
- Project must be in one of the 15 counties impacted by pipeline construction.
- Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, St. Louis, Wadena
- 10-acre minimum project size
- Trees must be planted on open land capable of supporting trees
Eligible projects include:
- Planting seedlings, including purchase and planting costs
- Site preparation
- Tree protection
- Project must be in one of the 15 counties impacted by pipeline construction.
- What a Match Tree Planting Cost Share
- The What a Match Tree Planting Cost Share helps with tree planting projects within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds that enhance water quality and support long-term forest stewardship.
Landowners may apply at any time with funding projected to be available through spring 2028. Projects will need to be completed by May 2028. Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses. Cost-share requests are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Contact your DNR forest stewardship forester or your local SWCD forester to get started.
Eligibility requirements:
- Land must be located within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds.
- A map of the watersheds can be found on the Board of Water and Soil Resources page.
- Trees must be planted on open land capable of supporting trees
- Land must be enrolled in a conservation easement or in the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) under a 20- or 50-year covenant
Eligible projects include:
- Planting seedlings, including purchase and planting costs
- Direct seeding
- Site preparation
This program is designed to improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and support long-term forest growth in priority watershed areas.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
- Land must be located within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds.
How does it work?
A DNR stewardship forester will review and approve eligible activities. To get started, contact the DNR stewardship forester for your area. They’ll work with you to develop a project plan that aligns with your goals.
Once your project is approved, you may complete the work yourself or hire a contractor. After the project is finished, a DNR stewardship forester will inspect the site to verify work before payment. Reimbursement is based on cost-share rates and the type of work completed.
Contact a stewardship forester to get started!