All North Dakota Forest Service News

September 29, 2025

Unified Command Receives "Roaming Bison" at 2025 Governor's Awards for Excellence for Collaboration During October 2024 Wildfires

Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden today presented the 2025 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Public Service, recognizing teams across state government for their exceptional efforts to serve citizens and meet a variety of challenges. This year’s awards recognized team efforts, both within individual agencies and among agencies inside and outside of state government. More than 300 nominations were submitted by state employees.

A group of people smile while holding an award
September 19, 2025

Excellence in Forestry Honored at 2025 Trees Bowl

Fourteen "Trees Award" winners from across the state were recognized at the 35th Trees Bowl and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, September 13th, 2025. The Trees Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and agencies who contribute in an outstanding way to forestry activities.

A group of people smiling
May 21, 2025

Growing Communities with Tree City USA

A city that takes care of its trees takes care of its people. Since 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program has recognized and supported the cities and leaders who create places to play, room to breathe, and beauty on every block.

Young trees planted in a park with a playground in the background
May 12, 2025

Fires break out across North Dakota during long stretch of Red Flag Warnings

Red Flag Warnings have been persistent across much of the state over the weekend and into the beginning parts of the week, reflective of the dry and windy conditions that continue. Over the weekend, engines and crews were staged throughout the state to quickly respond and reinforce local firefighters as fires popped up.

Two firefighters stand in front of a firetruck in a crop field
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