Forest Service seeks restoration grant applications
Approximately $3 million will be awarded under the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program this year in New Mexico.
From left, Raul Hurtado and Ray Corral with the Carson National Forest discuss forest health up Taos Canyon in this 2016 file photo.
The U.S. Forest Service is seeking grant applications by Feb. 23 for forest restoration projects on public and tribal lands in the state.
“Approximately $3 million will be awarded under the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program this year in New Mexico,” said Southwestern Regional Forester Cal Joyner in a press release. “The Forest Service will provide grants of up to $360,000 for projects that will be implemented in four years or less.”
The program encourages diverse organizations to collaborate on the design, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects. Grant money is available for projects on federal, tribal, state, county or municipal lands in New Mexico.
By working together to apply for these grants, small business owners, conservation and environmental groups, community groups, tribes, universities and other organizations can help reduce the threat of wildfire, improve forest and watershed conditions and bring jobs and job training to local communities. Applications should reflect local and traditional knowledge in developing creative ways to reduce the number and density of small-diameter trees on public lands.
“Last year the Forest Service awarded $3.5 million for 11 CFRP grants,” said Joyner in the press release. “A technical advisory panel reviewed the applications and made recommendations to us on the applications that best met the objectives of the program.”
For questions regarding the program or to develop project applications, contact Raul Hurtado of the Taos office at (575) 758-6344 or rehurtado@fs.fed.us.
The Forest Service will be sponsoring a grant writing workshop Friday (Jan. 20) in Albuquerque. Contact the program coordinators listed above for more details. Information is also available at the Southwestern Region website at fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp.
Completed grant applications must be received at the following address by 5 p.m. Feb. 23: 2017 CFRP Application, USDA Forest Service, Cooperative and International Forestry, Room 329, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
