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.

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, the Regional FAS, or call the CFIP program manager in Sacramento. A list of contacts is provided in the "More Info" section to the right.

CAL FIRE will be releasing approximately $2 million per period (every other month). The highest ranked CFIP projects/applications will be selected for funding in each application period. Once the funds have been encumbered for the designated period, all qualifying unfunded CFIP projects/applications shall be moved to the next funding cycle to compete with CFIP projects/applications that are submitted during that designated period. The CFIP application periods end on the following dates:

1. December 30, 2021
2. February 28, 2022
3. April 30, 2022
4. June 30, 2022