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Forest Land Enhancement Program
(FLEP)
The Florida Division of Forestry is implementing a new
forest landowner assistance program titled the "Forest Land
Enhancement Program" (FLEP), a USDA Forest Service-funded
assistance program designed to help landowners manage timber
production, wildlife habitat management, recreation and
aesthetics, while enhancing their property's environmental
value by protecting water quality and listed species.
The program is available to private non-industrial forest
landowners (PNIFs) on a 75:25 cost-share basis depending upon the Practice Title. Landowners
must apply to participate in the program. Application forms
are available from all Division of Forestry offices and
from other cooperating agencies. The Division's foresters
will provide technical assistance to landowners and will
be the local contact person for participating landowners.
Eligible practices include, but are not limited to: site
preparation, tree planting, and prescribed burning activities.
Cost-share rates established for FLEP practices will be
determined in a similar manner as those that were established
under two previous landowner cost-share programs, the Forest
Incentives Program (FIP), and Stewardship Incentives Program
(SIP).
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Program Objectives
- Investing in practices to establish, restore, protect,
manage, maintain, and enhance the health and productivity
of the non-industrial private forest lands in the United
States for timber, habitat for flora and fauna, soil,
water, and air quality, wetlands, and riparian buffers.
- Ensuring that afforestation, reforestation, improvement
of poorly stocked stands, timber stand improvement,
practices necessary to improve seedling growth and survival,
and growth enhancement practices occur where needed
to enhance and sustain the long-term productivity of
timber and non-timber forest resources to help meet
future public demand for all forest resources and provide
environmental benefits.
- Reducing the risks and helping restore, recover, and
mitigate the damage to forests caused by fire, insects,
invasive species, disease, and damaging weather.
- Increasing and enhancing carbon sequestration opportunities.
- Maintaining and enhancing the forest land base and
leverage state and local financial and technical assistance
to owners that promote the same conservation and environmental
values.
- Preserving the aesthetic quality of non-industrial
private forest lands and providing opportunities for
outdoor recreation.
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Landowner Eligibility
Who can Apply?
1. Private non-industrial forest landowners (PNIFs),
including those who produce forest products on a part-time
or intermittent basis are eligible to apply for and
receive assistance under the program. Applications are
considered without regard to race, color, religion,
national origin, age, sex, marital status, or handicap.
2. PNIFs who own at least 10 acres, with or without
forest cover may apply.
3. PNIFs who own less than 10,000 acres in the state
of Florida may apply.
Who is Eligible for Funding?
1. Applicants who meet all requirements for application
eligibility.
2. Eligible applicants who are approved through the
FLEP evaluation process.
3. Landowners with a multiple resource management
or practice plan.
4. Applicants who have agreed to maintain FLEP practices
for a minimum of 10 years.
5. Applicants requesting cost-share assistance for
qualified FLEP practices on no less than 10 acres and
not more than 1000 acres or whose cost-share request
does not exceed $10,000 annually.
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FLEP-funded Practice Categories in Florida
PRACTICE TITLE |
AUTHORIZED for FUNDING |
Cost-Share RATE |
| Forest Stewardship Plans |
No |
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| Reforestation/Afforestation |
Yes |
75% |
| Forest Stand Improvement |
Yes |
75% |
| Agro-Forestry |
No |
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| Water Quality Improvement |
Yes |
75% |
| Fish and Wildlife Habitat |
Yes |
75% |
| Forest Health and Protection |
Yes |
50% |
| Invasive Plant Species Control |
No |
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| Fire and Catastrophic Risk Reduction |
Yes |
75% |
| Fire and Catastrophic Event Rehabilitation |
Yes |
75% |
* Authorization does not necessarily mean that these
practices will be funded this year
Contact Us:
For information, please contact:
Your local County Forester or
Bonne Stine, CFA Supervisor
Telephone: 850/ 414-9912,
Fax: 850/ 921-8305
Email: stineb@doacs.state.fl.us |
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