All North Dakota Forest Service News

April 30, 2025

New Champion Trees crowned in North Dakota in 2024

State Forester Thomas Claeys is pleased to announce that four new champion trees and three new second place champions have been added to the North Dakota Register of Champion Trees. The purpose of the champion tree contest is to engage the public in forestry activities and instill a desire to protect and preserve these magnificent trees for future generations.

A large tree extends its canopy into the sky next to a home
March 25, 2025

2025 Arbor Day honoring family forest planting 30 years later

The North Dakota Forest Service is recognizing 30 years since the "Year of the Family" family forest planting. This project was spearheaded by the former First Lady Nancy Jones Schafer and former Lieutenant Governor Rosemarie Myrdal in 1994, which was declared the “Year of the Family”. As chair of the Centennial Trees Commission, Myrdal proposed that a tree should be planted “…for every child born in North Dakota in 1994”. She called this initiative the “Family Forest”.

A young child uses a spade to plant a tree with his mom helping and an older man in a hat walking up behind them
November 6, 2024

Windbreak renovation assistance available to landowners affected by wildfires

Wildfires that swept across North Dakota in early October left thousands of acres charred. Among those acres were many field and homestead windbreaks, and native forest. In response, the Outdoor Heritage Fund has graciously approved the North Dakota Forest Service (NDFS) to proceed with an open enrollment for windbreak renovations for those impacted by the wildfires.

A farmstead showing burnt grass and a burnt row of trees