Utah and federal agencies plan to direct up to $20 million over the next four years toward protecting forests from wildfires. The Salt Lake Tribune reported this week that the state and U.S. Forest Service have agreed to start on national forest restoration projects this year. The state and Forest Service entered a shared stewardship agreement in May, agreeing to work together on projects designed to reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health. The Canyons project in the Manti-La Sal National Forest includes dead tree clearing, controlled burning and reseeding in a 267-square-mile (692-square-kilometer) area. The project is under environmental review. Officials are planning to expand the Upper Provo River project in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The project includes forest thinning and controlled burning.