Wildfire Recovery and Forest Resilience
Directed Grant Program

The application period is over.

This program supports the planning and implementation of forest health projects that promote wildfire recovery and forest resilience in California’s Sierra-Cascade region.

The goal is to create more climate- and fire-resilient forested landscapes, reduce wildfire risk for communities and ecosystems, and accelerate recovery from recent wildfires. We prioritize multi-benefit, large-scale, and high-impact forest and watershed health efforts.

We offer capacity-building grants to support this program.

Grant Guidelines (pdf)

man in a hard had, mask, and shovel poses on front of small flames burning behind him in a forestground-level view of a small tree seedling growing out of dirt with a few people standing and talking in the backgroundlarge machine holds a long tree trunk horizontally getting ready to place it next to a pile of tree trunks

Eligibility

Eligible applicants:

  • public agencies, including federal agencies
  • qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • tribal entities recognized on the current United States Federal Register or the Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American tribe

Eligible projects:

  • are located within, or provide services to, California’s Sierra-Cascade region
  • are consistent with the goals of this program, defined in the grant guidelines (pdf)
  • result in a clear, demonstrable, and enduring public benefit
  • meet California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements

Example Projects

  • Analysis to support CEQA and/or NEPA documentation for a future project
  • Planning activities associated with new or existing wood processing facilities
  • Planning for post-fire restoration across a large landscape
  • Strategic reforestation and stand-improvement activities after wildfire or tree mortality
  • Forest management treatments that will reduce wildfire risks, protect communities, promote watershed health, improve habitat conditions, and/or protect biodiversity
  • Hazard tree removal along trails, roads, or to protect resources
  • Creation and/or maintenance of fuel breaks

Process and Schedule

Projects must be developed in collaboration with us. Contact your county’s Area Representative to discuss project ideas and to determine if your project is eligible for consideration.

Schedule:

  • June 16, 2023: Concept Proposals due
  • September 1, 2023: Site visits for all implementation projects are complete
  • September 29, 2023: Full Proposals due (if invited)
  • March 2024: the earliest grants will be awarded

Grantees must submit six-month progress reports and a final report. Learn more about managing your grant.

Funding Source

This program is funded through California’s General Fund in support of wildfire recovery and forest resilience priorities identified in California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan (pdf). The amount of funding available for the current program cycle is dependent on the Budget Act of 2023.