What is CAL FIRE’s California Forest Improvement Program?
The California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) encourages private investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources. Through CFIP, private land owners receive up to 90% reimbursement for their forest improvement costs.
CFIP can provide eligible landowners with technical and financial assistance for planning, reforestation and resource management investments that improve the quality and value of forestland. Under current State law, CFIP can help with rebuilding forest, soil, water, fish and wildlife resources to meet our future needs for a healthy environment and productive forest and woodlands.
How do I get started?
If you are a homeowner looking to participate in this cost-share program, CAL FIRE recommends reading the CFIP User Guide in its entirety as well as reaching out to your local Forestry Assistance Specialist.
Nevada County program contact
In Nevada County, the Forest Advisor for CFIP is David Ahmadi, David.Ahmadi@fire.ca.gov, 143 B Spring Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945. For a full list of program contacts by county, check out the CFIP Forest Assistance Specialist contact list.
What is USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)?
EQIP is a federal cost-share program that provides financial incentives to farmers, ranchers and timberland owners that apply approved conservation practices on their properties. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), whose office is based in Grass Valley, helps to defray the costs by 50-75%. Forestland priority treatments include thinning, fuel breaks, oak woodland improvement, conifer removal, pruning, reforestation, conversion of brush fields to timber land, slash cleanup, and road improvements to reduce sediment delivery.
How do I get started?
NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.
Nevada County program contact
Your EQIP contact is Registered Professional Forester, Evan Smith, Evan.Smith@usda.gov, 113 Presley Way, Suite 1, Grass Valley, (530) 798-5532. Office hours are 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM.