Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Financial Assistance (Oregon Department of Forestry)

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Financial Assistance (Oregon Department of Forestry) is sponsored by Natural Resources Conservation Service (through ODF technical assistance). ODF foresters assist landowners interested in implementing forest-related conservation practices authorized by the Farm Bill. For NRCS practice implementation, landowners receive financial assistance from NRCS and technical assistance from ODF.

Technical and financial assistance | Know Your Forest Technical and financial assistance There are many financial and technical resources available to support Oregon’s forest landowners. Much of the financial assistance comes from funding passed through federal and state-run programs designed to help with forest management, conservation and restoration.

A great starting point for accessing these resources is to reach out to your local Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) forester. They can help guide you through the options available and connect you with programs tailored to your needs. Find your local ODF forester by locating your forest on the Landowner Assistance Map .

Below, you’ll find a list of assistance opportunities available through ODF’s Small Forestland Owner Office . Some of these programs are implemented through a state-federal agency partnership, where landowners may receive technical assistance from ODF and financial assistance from a federal agency.

ODF financial assistance for landowners ODF provides targeted financial assistance programs designed to support landowners in implementing sustainable forest management practices, enhancing forest health and addressing specific challenges such as wildfire risk and pest mitigation. Below is a summary of these programs and who is eligible for them.

To learn more and apply for financial assistance, visit ODF’s “Grants and Incentives” webpage . Forest Stewardship Program Through funding provided by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), ODF offers reimbursement for the development of stewardship plans written by a professional natural resource consultant.

Nonindustrial private, local government, and tribal forest landowners located in program priority areas with a minimum plan size of 10 acres. Through funding provided by the USFS, ODF offers reimbursement for contractors to assist landowners in the treatment of priority areas near ongoing bark beetle-caused tree mortality or areas at imminent risk of attack by bark beetles.

Treatment may include: application of preventative insecticides or repellants Non-federal landowners, including county, city, private and state lands. Through funding provided by USFS, grant funds are used to purchase development rights of eligible private forestlands through either conservation easement or fee-title acquisition into public ownership.

Private landowners in designated forest legacy areas where important forests may be lost to non-forest uses. Small Forestland Grant Program Through a state-funded competitive grant, ODF awards up to $300,000 to each awardee to reduce the risk of high severity wildfire by treating hazardous fuels.

Small forest landowners owning up to 160 acres of forestland west of, and up to 640 acres of forestland east of, the crest of the Cascade Mountains.

Landscape Resiliency Program Through a state-funded competitive grant, ODF awards large-scale (greater than $300,000) grants for cross-boundary, landscape-scale projects to reduce wildfire risk on public and private forestlands and rangelands, and in communities near homes and critical infrastructure, through restoration of landscape resiliency and reduction of hazardous fuels. All lands within the state of Oregon (public and private).

Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program (SFISH) SFISH helps qualified small forest landowners improve fish habitat on their forestland by providing grants for projects such as: replacing culverts in fish streams fixing unstable road segments that pose a significant risk to fish streams Landowners who own, or hold in common ownership interest, less than 5,000 acres of Oregon forestland; have harvested no more than an average yearly volume of 2 million board feet of merchantable forest products from their Oregon forestlands in the past three years; and affirm that they do not expect to exceed an average yearly volume of 2 million board feet of merchantable forest products from their Oregon forestlands for 10 years after receiving an SFISH grant.

Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) Through funding provided by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), ODF foresters assist landowners through all phases of the EFRP with a goal of rehabilitating and reforesting lands impacted by natural disasters. Program participants receive financial assistance from the FSA and technical assistance from ODF.

Technical assistance may include: providing forestry expertise and assisting landowners with the development and implementation of practices to restore forest landscapes impacted by natural disasters developing, reviewing and monitoring of planting and restoration plans for landowners enrolled in the EFRP Non-industrial private forestland owners impacted by natural disasters such as wildfire, severe storms, insects and disease, or drought.

Landowners must register with the FSA. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Through funding provided by the NRCS, ODF foresters assist landowners interested in implementing forest-related conservation practices authorized by the Farm Bill. For NRCS practice implementation, landowners receive financial assistance from NRCS and technical assistance from ODF.

Technical assistance may include: onsite visits and property assessments assisting with the application process writing forest management plans meeting with operators and landowners to discuss practice options associated with each program completing GIS mapping for approved plans laying out, measuring and marking field boundaries Non-industrial private forestland owners. Landowners must register with the FSA and NRCS.

American Forests delivers science-backed reforestation support to help landowners and Tribal Nations recover from wildfire, drought, storms, pests, and other forest disturbances. AF develops climate-adapted, site-specific plans that prioritize landowner management goals. AF’s custom-tailored plans can help landowners access financial assistance programs and evaluate non-traditional timber markets for funding reforestation projects.

Non-industrial private forestland owners who live in certain geographic priority areas or meet certain grant requirements. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Forest Conservation Tax Credit (FCTC) The Forest Conservation Tax Credit helps qualified small forestland owners conserve critical riparian habitat by providing a tax credit for the value of the trees retained, plus associated costs, when they harvest following the standard practice vegetation retention prescription rather than the Small Forestland Owner Minimum Option for eligible riparian management areas (RMAs).

Trees in the forest conservation area must be retained for 50 years. The tax credit can be used toward Oregon personal or corporate income or estate taxes, is transferable to heirs, and does not expire. Small forestland owners can apply for the FCTC by selecting it as the RMA option when submitting a harvest notification in FERNS.

Landowners who own, or hold in common ownership interest, less than 5,000 acres of Oregon forestland; have harvested no more than an average yearly volume of 2 million board feet of merchantable forest products from their Oregon forestlands in the past three years; and affirm that they do not expect to exceed an average yearly volume of 2 million board feet of merchantable forest products from their Oregon forestlands for 10 years after receiving the FCTC.

Federal financial assistance Federal programs offer valuable financial and technical assistance to help Oregon’s forest landowners achieve their stewardship goals. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides cost-share opportunities through programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program , supporting forest health, wildlife habitat and water quality improvements.

The Farm Service Agency offers programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), which provide funding for reforestation, erosion control and recovery after natural disasters. Additionally, programs such as the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership foster collaboration between federal and private landowners for wildfire risk reduction and habitat restoration.

Oregon’s forest landowners may also benefit from assistance through the U.S. Forest Service’s Cooperative Forestry programs , including the Forest Stewardship Program (implemented by ODF), Wood Innovations initiative and Urban and Community Forestry Program. These programs support sustainable management and technical guidance.

Landowner Incentives and Resources Family forestlands benefit from various state and federal programs, which this video explores along with strategies for utilizing these resources and connecting with local partners. Cost Sharing Programs and Taxes for Forest Landowners This video offers strategies for managing cost-share payment tax liabilities.

Oregon State University Extension Soil and water conservation districts Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board — Small Grant Program American Forest Foundation Oregon Small Woodlands Association Find a Subject Matter Expert