EAST LANSING –The U.S. Department of Agriculture has funding available through two conservation initiatives to improve forest wildlife habitat and water quality in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan.

Private forestland owners who submit applications by Friday may be eligible for conservation financial assistance through the Improving Forest Health for At-Risk Wildlife Resources Partnership or the Joint Chiefs’ Initiative for Watershed Restoration.

Improving Forest Health for At-Risk Wildlife is a partnership including the USDA and the American Bird Conservancy and offers financial assistance to forest owners to improve habitat for at-risk bird species and other wildlife. Landowners in the U.P. counties of Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft are eligible to apply.

More information is available at www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov.