Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP)

The Community Forest Program (CFP) is a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to tribal entities, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to acquire and establish community forests that provide community benefits. Community forest benefits are specified in the authorizing statute (16 U.S.C. 2103(d)) and Final Rule (36 CFR Part 230), including: economic benefits from sustainable forest management and tourism; environmental benefits from natural resource conservation such as storm water management, clean air and water, and wildlife habitat; forest-based educational programs, model forest stewardship activities; and recreational opportunities. Public access to the community forests is required and intended to enhance public health and well-being. In addition, the program authorizes allocation of a limited amount of appropriated funds to State Foresters and equivalent Indian tribe officials for technical assistance to implement community forest projects.

Project grants are awarded to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native Corporations), local governmental entities, or qualified nonprofit organizations (as defined in 16 U.S.C. 2103(d)) that are qualified to acquire and manage land. Individuals are not eligible to receive funds through this program.

The Forest Service will give priority to an application that maximizes the delivery of community benefits through a high degree of public participation including underserved communities; and (1) Type and extent of community benefits provided. Community benefits include: (i) Economic benefits such as timber and non-timber products resulting from sustainable forest management and tourism (ii) Environmental benefits, including clean air and water, stormwater management, and wildlife habitat (iii) Benefits from forest-based experiential learning, including K-12 conservation education programs; vocational education programs in disciplines such as forestry and environmental biology; and environmental education through individual study or voluntary participation in programs offered by organizations such as 4-H, Boy or Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.(iv) Benefits from serving as replicable models of effective forest stewardship for private landowners (v) Recreational benefits secured through public access, such as hiking, hunting and fishing (2) Extent and nature of community engagement in the establishment and long-term management of the community forest including from underserved communities (3) Amount of cost share leveraged (4) Extent to which the community forest contributes to a landscape conservation initiative (5) Extent of due diligence completed on the project, including cost share committed and status of appraisal (6) Likelihood that, unprotected, the property...

Funds reimbursed by the Federal Government may not exceed 50 percent of the total project budget expended by the grantee. The non-Federal share of the match may be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contribution. This program may use up to 10% of its funds for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance grants. Technical assistance funds do not have a matching requirement and are available to state foresters or equivalent officials of Indian tribes with a funded project in their jurisdiction.

Fiscal year 2025: This award will facilitate the acquisition of the Mosher Hill Falls Community Forest; a forested property selected for funding through a competitive process based on the public benefits this acquisition will have on the surrounding community. The property will be acquired and subsequently managed as a community forest under an approved community forest plan.