Cost-Share Opportunities

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides financial and technical assistance to “agricultural producers,” including forest owners, to address natural resource concerns.

EQIP offers funding for landowners to plan and implement conservation practices which work for them. This can result in improved productivity and health of your forest and better habitat for wildlife.

Conservation practices include Forest Stand Improvement, Brush Management, Forest Trails & Landings, Wildlife Crop Tree Release, and many more.

Funding for implementation of conservation practices requires that the practices are prescribed in a written management plan which meets federal planning criteria. If you do not have a management plan for your forest, funding is available through this same program to have one written by a qualified Technical Service Provider (TSP).

A Forest Management Plan can be written to meet your goals, whether these involve improved wildlife habitat, timber management, soil and water quality, or non-timber products such as maple syrup.

To apply, contact your local NRCS Service Center. (link leaves website)

Tim Russell is a Certified Forestry Technical Service Provider (TSP-17-21765) and has experience writing Forest Management Plans that meet NRCS criteria.

Do you own forest land in the New York City Watershed? If so, you may qualify for cost-share funding through the management Assistance Program (MAP), a program administered through the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC). The Management Assistance Program is an incentive program providing financial assistance and technical support to landowners who wish to conduct certain stewardship activities inside the NYC watershed.  Landowners who complete a watershed forest management plan or have completed a MyWoodlot Profile are eligible for MAP (link leaves website). 

Funded stewardship activities Include:

-Tree Planting – For forest establishment, or to improve species diversity.

-Riparian Improvement – Tree and shrub planting to improve or protect water quality adjacent to stream and wetland areas, collectively known as riparian buffers.

-Invasive Plant Control – Eradication and control techniques to stop the spread of invasive native and non-native plants that interfere with forest management goals.

-Timber Stand Improvement – Removal of trees in overly dense stands of trees to result in a vigorously growing forest filled with high-quality timber.

- Wildlife Improvement – Options include practices to increase food available to wildlife, and habitat creation and protection strategies. 

Tim Russell is a watershed Qualified Forester who can assist with forest management planning and implementation of stewardship activities.

For more information about this program, visit the WAC's website. (link leaves website)