Special Announcement: Funding Forest Stewardship – Make a Plan

NNRG is kicking off a series about cost-share programs and resources available to woodland owners in Oregon and Washington. Over the next six weeks we’ll be sharing information about resources to fund stewardship activities in your forest. We’re focusing on the topics you’ve told us are important to you: developing management plans, improving timber quality, planting native trees and shrubs, removing invasive species, reducing fuel loads, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat.

We’re timing this series with the cutoff for 2016 EQIP funding in Washington State. This year, the Washington EQIP deadline is October 16, 2015. In Oregon, the cutoff to apply for 2016 funding is still to be determined. (We’ll keep folks updated.)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps landowners access technical expertise and financial resources to develop and complete conservation practices that improve the health and productivity of their land. If you are interested in applying for EQIP, contact your local NRCS office to discuss the projects you have in mind. For more information about EQIP, check out our EQIP page. We realize EQIP may not be the right fit for everyone’s needs, so we’ve included additional resources.

Programs in Oregon

Cost-share

• Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) – ODF can help landowners with a minimum of 10 acres develop a forest management plan by providing up to 75% cost-share reimbursement.
• EQIP funding for forest management plans – NRCS provides funding for landowners to hire a forestry consultant (they call them Technical Service Providers) to develop management plans (they call the plans Conservation Activity Plans, or CAPs). Contact your local NRCS office to discuss the CAP program for your county.

Do-It-Yourself

• Oregon Forest Management Plan Template – Oregon State University Extension has developed guidelines for developing a forest management plan
• Forest Management Planning Resources – more resources to get started

Other

• Contact an Oregon Department of Forestry Stewardship Forester for assistance in starting or reviewing your plan.
• Hire a natural resource consultant to prepare a plan for you.

Programs in Washington

Cost-share

• EQIP funding for forest management plans – NRCS provides funding for landowners to hire a forestry consultant (they call them Technical Service Providers) to develop management plans (they call them Conservation Activity Plans, or CAPs). Contact your local NRCS office to discuss the CAP program for your area.

Guided Training

• Forest Stewardship Coached Planning – Washington State University Extension’s flagship course can help landowners develop their own forest management plan, as well as gain in-depth knowledge about a wide variety of forest ecology and management topics. Courses start across the state at different times, refer to the link above to find out about the next class!

Do-It-Yourself

• Washington State Integrated Forest Management Plan – Washington State Department of Natural Resources and partners developed a forest management plan template to help landowners write a plan for their forest.

Other

• Contact a Washington Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Forester for assistance in starting or reviewing your plan.
• Hire a natural resource consultant to prepare a plan for you.