Deadline: 21-Jan-22
The Oregon Department of Forestry is seeking applications for the Small Forestland Grant Program to support small forestland owners in reducing wildfire risk.
This call is intended to fund forest fuel management activities on small forestland owner properties.
Funding Priorities
- All projects must reduce the risk of high severity wildfire. Additionally, projects that achieve one or more of the following priorities will score higher than those that do not.
- Protects infrastructure, creates shaded fuel breaks along roadways, or is in a Watershed (HUC-6) wildfire risk class of high or extreme as displayed in the Overall Wildfire Risk watershed summary.
- Project treats or protects multiple properties,
- Treatments address additional resource concerns including one or more of the following: insects and diseases, drought mortality, invasive species, storm damage, or enhances wildlife habitat,
- Clearly demonstrates collaborative approach including treatment proximity (to previous or planned fuel treatments,
- Project protects or serves lands that house vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations include individuals that are elderly, individuals with chronic health conditions, individuals that are economically disadvantaged, or properties outside of structural fire protection districts or ODF protected lands.
- Lands with a forest management plan in place or located in one of the following planning areas:
- Oregon Conservation Strategy’s Conservation Opportunity Areas
- Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Conservation Implementation Strategy areas
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board’s Focused Investment Partnerships (Oak Woodland and Dry Type Forest Habitats)
- Priority treatment or focus areas listed in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan or County Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Oregon Forest Management Plan – Uniform Plan
- Properties with a Stewardship Agreement or enrolled in the Healthy Forest Reserve Program
- Member of Oregon’s Tree Farm System
- American Family Forestland’s Carbon Program or My Land Plan
- Oregon Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation and Management Plan
- Project utilizes non-traditional forest products (biochar, biomass, small diameter wood or firewood for example).
Funding Information
- Total project sponsor and ODF or OSU service costs do not exceed 25% of total project cost,
- Requested funding is more than $10,000 and up to $300,000,
Fundable Activities
Activities must include one or more practices that reduce the likelihood of future wildfire severity including but not limited to the following:
- Direct costs associated with prescribed fire,
- Thinning,
- Mowing or mastication,
- Pruning,
- Slash treatments
- Chipping, hauling, pile and burn, biochar or other small diameter wood utilization,
- Treatment of invasive species including juniper encroachment,
- Other hand or mechanical treatments of forest fuels to prepare for future prescribed fire,
- Other forest management activities listed in owner’s Forest Management Plan intended to reduce the risk of wildfires,
- Landowner outreach efforts aimed at improving treatment connectivity or engaging vulnerable populations within the proposed project area.
Eligibility Criteria
Projects must support “small forestland owner(s)” defined as an individual, group or federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon, who owns up to 160 acres west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains or up to 640 acres east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Project submissions must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Project reduces the risk of high severity wildfire by treating hazardous fuels,
- At least 75% of project costs fund fuel reduction treatment activities on small forestland owner properties,
- 25% leverage required. Sponsor in-kind expenses, landowner labor rates and other grant funds are eligible leverage sources.
- Project does not generate net revenue.
For more information, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/pages/small-forestland-grant-program.aspx