Cooperative Forestry Assistance

With respect to nonfederal forest and other rural lands to assist in the advancement of forest resources management and conservation; developing genetically improved tree seeds and seedlings; producing and distributing tree seeds and seedlings; promoting afforestation and reforestation; the encouragement of active forest management; the control of insects and diseases affecting trees and forests; the control of rural fires; the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues/biomass, including the recycling of wood fiber and biomass utilization; the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat; and the planning and implementation of urban and community forestry programs; broaden existing programs on non-federal forest lands to meet the multiple use objectives of landowners; provide opportunities to private landowners to protect ecologically valuable and threatened non-Federal forest land; and strengthen educational, technical, and financial assistance programs that provide assistance to owners of non-Federal forest lands.

State Forestry or equivalent State agencies, Tribes, non-profits, and municipalities are eligible. All States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the territories and possessions of the United States are eligible.

Most grants to State Forestry Agencies are approved on the basis of negotiated targets or objectives to be achieved. A specific project focus may be developed by State Urban Forestry Councils.

Government shall not exceed the amount expended by a State grantee or grantee for all programs except those covered by Section 11 of Public Law 95-313. Section 10(b)(2), State Fire Assistance program funds require a 1:1 match by the grantee, unless reduced with a waiver. Section 10(b)(3) Volunteer Fire Assistance program funds require a 50 percent match by the grantee. Section 13A Landscape-Scale Restoration program funds require a 50 percent match by the grantee. Cost-sharing ratios for Section 11(a) Management Assistance and Section 11(c), Technology Implementation programs shall be negotiated. Section 11(b), Forest Resource Planning program funds require 20 percent matching by the State. Amount of grant based on negotiated targets to be achieved.

Fiscal year 2025: In FY25, awards advanced forest management, landscape scale restoration, reforestation, insect and disease control, wildfire risk reduction, urban and community forestry, utilization of wood and wood residues/biomass, and other activities on non-federal forestland through technical, educational, and financial assistance programs.