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Forestry and Wildlife Cost Share Programs

  • Quail photograph A quick reference designed to provide non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners with a brief overview of the primary federal cost-share programs that are available to assist them in implementing forestry and wildlife practices.
The following information does not represent the entire list of programs available to landowners, just some of the more frequently used programs.

You will find the administering agency, the practices offered, limits to eligibility, cost-share rates, maximum yearly reimbursements, management plan requirements, and program life spans.

For more detailed information about landowner eligibility and specific practices that are cost-shared, contact your local program administration Agency listed for each program.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Local program administration agency for the WHIP, CRP, or EQIP programs:
For more information on the CRP, WHIP, or EQIP programs, please contact: 
Administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Practices Offered: Tree Planting Various Non-Forestry Practices.

Land Eligibility: Erosion Index > 8, unless in a Conservation Priority Area. Treatment area in production at least two years in the past five years.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 50% of State Average Installation Cost.

Maximum Reimbursement: Annual rental payment up to $50,000 per year.

Management Plan Requirement: One page tree improvement, or tree planting prescription, as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Ten (10) to Fifteen (15) years.

program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Practices Offered: Wildlife Habitat Development, Brush Management, Creating Wildlife Openings, Fish Stream Improvement

Land Eligibility: Privately owned lands, including lands owned by non-governmental organizations.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 75% of State Average Installation.

Cost Maximum Reimbursement: Up to 10,000 per person, per year.

Management Plan Requirement: Wildlife Habitat Development Plan as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Ten (10) years.

program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Practices Offered: Tree Planting, Timber Stand Improvement, Various Non-Forestry Practices (tree growth is not an objective of EQIP).

Land Eligibility: Priority is given to Highly Erodible Lands (HEL), and parcels in Conservation Priority Areas.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 75% of State Average Installation Cost.

Maximum Reimbursement: Up to 10,000 per person, per year.

Management Plan Requirement: One page tree improvement, or tree planting prescription, as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Five (5) to Ten (10) years.

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program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Prevention Program

Administered by the Florida Division of Forestry, funded by the USDA Forest Service

Sign up Period: July 1 - August 12, 2009- Visit the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share Program for details!

Local program administration agency for the SPB Prevention program:
For information on the SPB Prevention program:
Practices Offered: Pre-commercial thinning, first pulpwood thinning, prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, longleaf pine planting.

Land Eligibility: Limited to 44 northern Florida counties located within the range of the southern pine beetle.  Minimum tract size 10 acres.

Landowner Eligibility: Non-industrial private forest landowners with at least 10 acres, but not more than 5000 acres, of forest land in Florida.

Cost-Share Rate: Paid at fixed dollar-per-acre or dollar-per-seedling rates established for each practice.

Maximum Reimbursement: $10,000 per year.

Management Plan Requirement: Practice to be described on application form with detailed practice map. Although not required, applicants with a multi-resource forest management plan, or a commitment to obtaining/updating such a plan, receive associated points in the application ranking procedure.

Practice Lifespan: Practice maintained for at least five (5) years.

SPB Program Administration Location:
Local Division of Forestry County Forester Office

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