LANSING, Mich. (AP) — More than two dozen projects will share $3.6 million to help battle invasive species across Michigan.
The state says the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program funding will support promising new developments to fight the pests on land and in the water.
The projects will include the use of new techniques to increase development of beech trees that are resistant to beech bark disease, and grafting selected ash trees that have survived the emerald ash borer and testing them for resistance.
The program is overseen by Michigan’s departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development.
Over five years, more than $18 million has been awarded to support 109 projects.
The funding has allowed surveys of more than 285,000 acres (115,335 hectares) of land and water for invasive species.
