The Latest Forestry Assistance Programs - 2001 Update!

There are a variety of U.S. Federal programs available to assist people with their forestry and conservation needs.  The following  assistance programs, some financial and some technical, are major programs available to the forest landowner in the United States. These programs are designed to help a landowner with the cost of tree planting.  Most of these programs are cost-share programs that will pay a percentage of the establishment cost of the trees.

You should first study the delivery flow for assistance which starts at the local level.  You will have to inquire, sign up, and be approved locally in your specific conservation district.  It takes some persistence and you must be prepared to work and cooperate with a bureaucratic process that some people would rather not put up with.   Find the nearest National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) office for assistance.

The 1996 Farm Bill authorizes billions of dollars in funding for conservation programs.  Forestry is certainly a major part.  These conservation programs were created to improve natural resources on America's private lands.  Forest owners have used millions of those dollars for  improvement of their forested properties.

I list the major programs and sources of assistance.  I have tried to include a contact for you to receive more information.  However, you need to be aware that there are other sources for assistance on a state and local level.  Your local NRCS office will know these and point you in the right direction.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers. Landowners receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract on highly erodible land taken out of production. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.

Contact: USDA, Farm Service Agency

Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)

The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) supports good forest management practices on privately owned, non-industrial forest lands nationwide. Eligible practices are tree planting, timber stand improvement, site preparation for natural regeneration, and other related activities.   FIP provides cost-share assistance at specifically set rates on forests with a minimum of 1 acre. FIP is available in counties designated by a Forest Service survey of eligible private timber acreage.

Contact: USDA, National Resource Conservation Service

Partners for Wildlife (PFW)

Partners for Wildlife provides cost-share and technical assistance to landowners to restore wetlands, streams and some grasslands and forestlands in order to improve their use by wildlife.  Funds are limited.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has information and details.

Contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

The CREP provides landowners financial subsidies to remove cropland and certain pasture land from agricultural production by placing it in the Conservation Reserve for up to 15 years.   Conservation practices that must be installed are riparian forest buffers, filter strips and wetland restoration.  Landowners who participate will enter into a 15 year contract with the USDA, receiving 75 percent cost share to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) and annual rental payments.  Eligibility varies by region.

Contact: USDA, Farm Service Agency

 

Forest Legacy Program (FLP)

The Forest Legacy Program (FLP), a federal program in partnership with states, supports state efforts to protect environmentally sensitive forest lands.  Designed to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands, FLP is
an entirely voluntary program. To maximize the public benefits it achieves, the program focuses on the acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forest lands. FLP helps the states develop and carry out their forest conservation plans. It encourages and supports acquisition of conservation easements, legally binding agreements transferring a negotiated set of property rights from one party to another, without removing the property from private ownership.  Most FLP conservation easements restrict development, require sustainable forestry practices, and protect other values.


Contact: USDA, Forest Service


Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides assistance to landowners in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement.

The purposes of the program are achieved through the implementation of a conservation plan which includes structural, vegetative, and land management practices on eligible land. Five to ten year contracts are made with eligible producers. Cost-share payments may be made to implement one or more eligible structural or vegetative practices, such as animal waste management facilities, terraces, filter strips, tree planting, and permanent wildlife habitat. Incentive payments can be made to implement one or more land management practices, such as nutrient management, pest management, and grazing land management.

Fifty percent of the funding available for the program will be targeted at natural resource concerns relating to livestock production. The program is carried-out primarily in priority areas that may be watersheds, regions, or multi-state areas, and for significant statewide natural resource concerns that are outside of geographic priority areas.

Contact: USDA, National Resource Conservation Service

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can establish conservation easements of either permanent or 30-year duration, or can enter into restoration cost-share agreements where no easement is involved.

In exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment up to the agricultural value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration costs for restoring the wetlands The 30-year easement payment is 75 percent of what would be provided for a permanent easement on the same site and 75 percent of the restoration cost. The voluntary agreements are for a minimum 10-year duration and provide for 75 percent of the cost of restoring the involved wetlands. Easements and restoration cost-share agreements establish wetland protection and restoration as the primary land use for the duration of the easement or agreement. In all instances, landowners continue to control access to their land.

Contact: USDA, National Resource Conservation Service

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan and USDA agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. USDA and program participants enter into a cost-share agreement for wildlife habitat development. This agreement generally lasts a minimum of 10 years from the date that the contract is signed.

Contact: USDA, National Resource Conservation Service

Other Sites of Interest:

Help with BMP's
National Resource Conservation Service
National Association of Conservation Districts
Farm Service Agency
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Get State Forest Stewardship Assistance
Landowner Assistance Programs