Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner    -    James R. Karels, Director

Forestry and Wildlife Cost Share Programs

• A quick reference designed to provide non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners with a brief overview of the primary federal cost-share programs that are available to assist them in implementing forestry and wildlife practices.

You will find the administering agency, the practices offered, limits to eligibility, cost-share rates, maximum yearly reimbursements, management plan requirements, and program life spans.

For more detailed information about landowner eligibility and specific practices that are cost-shared, contact your local program administration Agency listed for each program.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Land Eligibility: Erosion Index > 8, unless in a Conservation Priority Area. Treatment area in production at least two years in the past five years.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 50% of State Average Installation Cost.

Maximum Reimbursement: Annual rental payment up to $50,000 per year.

Management Plan Requirement: One page tree improvement, or tree planting prescription, as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Ten (10) to Fifteen (15) years.

program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Practices Offered: Wildlife Habitat Development, Brush Management, Creating Wildlife Openings, Fish Stream Improvement

Land Eligibility: Privately owned lands, including lands owned by non-governmental organizations.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 75% of State Average Installation.

Cost Maximum Reimbursement: Up to 10,000 per person, per year.

Management Plan Requirement: Wildlife Habitat Development Plan as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Ten (10) years.

program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Practices Offered: Tree Planting, Timber Stand Improvement, Various Non-Forestry Practices (tree growth is not an objective of EQIP).

Land Eligibility: Priority is given to Highly Erodible Lands (HEL), and parcels in Conservation Priority Areas.

Landowner Eligibility: All landowners as long as they meet the above land eligibility criteria.

Cost-Share Rate: 75% of State Average Installation Cost.

Maximum Reimbursement: Up to 10,000 per person, per year.

Management Plan Requirement: One page tree improvement, or tree planting prescription, as part of a Conservation Plan of Operations.

Practice Lifespan: Five (5) to Ten (10) years.

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program administration Location:
Local USDA Service Center

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Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Prevention Program

Land Eligibility: Limited to 44 northern Florida counties located within the range of the southern pine beetle.  Minimum tract size 10 acres.

Landowner Eligibility: Non-industrial private forest landowners with at least 10 acres, but not more than 5000 acres, of forest land in Florida.

Cost-Share Rate: Paid at fixed dollar-per-acre or dollar-per-seedling rates established for each practice.

Maximum Reimbursement: $10,000 per year.

Management Plan Requirement: Practice to be described on application form with detailed practice map. Although not required, applicants with a multi-resource forest management plan, or a commitment to obtaining/updating such a plan, receive associated points in the application ranking procedure.

Practice Lifespan: Practice maintained for at least five (5) years.

SPB Program Administration Location:
Local Division of Forestry County Forester Office

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