California Forest Improvement Program

The purpose of the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) is to encourage private and public investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources. This focus is to ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other economic benefits, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations.

The program scope includes the improvement of all forest resources including fish and wildlife habitat, and soil and water quality. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land. Cost-shared activities include:

  • Preparation of a Forest Management Plan by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF)
  • RPF Supervision of the following:
    • Reforestation
      • Site Preparation
      • Trees and Planting
      • Tree Shelters
    • Stand Improvement
      • Pre-commercial Thinning or Release
      • Pruning
      • Follow-up (includes mechanical, herbicide and/or slash disposal follow-up)
    • Forestland conservation practices / fish and wildlife habitat improvement

Broadcast/controlled/cultural burning is not eligible for CFIP cost share. For a list of other practices not eligible for CFIP cost-share, please review the User’s Guide provided in the "More Info" section to the right.

 

More Information

American Tree Farm System

Tree Farm System Logo

The American Tree Farm System is a program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife, and recreation.  Each state program is run by a diverse group of partners, such as state agencies, non-profit organizations, volunteers, foresters, and landowners.

Follow the link below to learn more about the California program.

https://www.treefarmsystem.org/california

Funding:

The CFIP program receives funding from a variety of other State and Federal sources. The varied funding sources may have different requirements or additional application procedures, so please always be sure to discuss your project with your Forestry Assistance Specialist (FAS) at the CAL FIRE unit in which your project resides, or the Regional FAS. Contact a Forestry Assistance Specialist.

CAL FIRE will be releasing approximately $1 to $2 million per period (every other month). The highest ranked CFIP application packages will be selected for funding in each application period. Once the funds have been encumbered for the designated period, all qualifying unfunded CFIP application packages shall be moved to the next funding cycle to compete with CFIP projects/applications that are submitted during that designated period. Application packages that have failed to score high enough to be awarded a grant after one year will be sent back to the project proponent with an explanation for why the project has not been funded.

The 2023 CFIP application periods end on the dates listed below. These dates are for the state-wide scoring in Sacramento for all CFIP projects at each cut-off. For a CFIP application to be in Sacramento and eligible for the state-wide scoring, it must have first scored well at the local level and been processed by the local FAS. Please discuss local scoring and processing lead times with the FAS at the CAL FIRE unit in which your project resides.

March 1, 2023
May 1, 2023
July 1, 2023
September 1, 2023
November 1, 2023

Getting Started:

Before you fill out an application, pre-consult with your local FAS (Contact a Forestry Assistance Specialist) to determine the status of funding, current application process, and whether your property and project are eligible for funding. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the CFIP User’s Guide and familiarize themselves with CFIP before applying. The User’s Guide includes more detailed instructions on how to apply and which forms to submit to your local FAS.

Forms:

THE NEWEST EDITION OF CFIP FORMS MUST BE USED. Projects submitted on old forms will be rejected upon submittal.

Templates for RPFs

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