Financial assistance programs are sometimes
available for landowners to help offset costs of implementing conservation
practices that benefit the environment. Practices can include tree
establishment, wildlife habitat improvement, and even insect, disease and
invasive species management. Contact your local
TFS office for current programs that may apply. A
few of these programs are described below.
EQIP, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation
Service
The Environmental
Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary program that provides financial and
technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a
maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial
assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address
natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water,
plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and
non-industrial private forestland. In addition, a purpose of EQIP is to help
producers meet federal, state, tribal and local environmental
regulations.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service
The
Partners Program provides technical and financial assistance to private
landowners and tribes to help meet the habitat needs of migratory birds and
rare, declining or protected plants and animals. Staff are available to
assist private landowners with developing habitat improvement projects
associated with imperiled ecosystems such as longleaf pine, bottomland
hardwood, native prairies and riparian areas.
LIP, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Landowner Incentive Program is
designed to meet the needs of private, non-federal landowners wishing to enact
conservation practices on their land for the benefit of healthy, terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems. LIP focuses on projects aimed at enhancing habitat
for migratory birds and species of greatest conservation need throughout the
state. Projects that reduce soil erosion, restore and enhance native
vegetation and restore proper functioning of rivers and creeks are
targeted.
Texas Longleaf Conservation Assistance
Program, Texas A&M Forest Service
The Texas Longleaf
Conservation Assistance Program provides both financial and technical
assistance to eligible landowners for the establishment, enhancement and
management of Longleaf Pine. For more information regarding eligibility and how
to apply click here.
Southern Pine Beetle Prevention
Program, Texas A&M Forest Service
The
Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program provides financial assistance funds
for the first thinning of high hazard stands of pine pulpwood within 30
counties of East Texas. For questions of eligibility, contact your local
TFS
office.
Oak Wilt
Suppression Project, Texas A&M Forest Service
The
Texas Oak Wilt Suppression Project provides financial
assistance to Central Texas landowners affected by oak wilt, a devastating
disease of red oaks and live oaks caused by the fungus
Ceratocystis
fagaceurum. Assistance, not to exceed 40 percent of the actual cost, is
available to install a trench to halt the spread of expanding oak wilt
centers and/or to remove oak wilt-infected red oaks. To apply or request
assistance, contact your local TFS office.
Joint Chief's Landscape Restoration Partnership, Texas
A&M Forest Service
The Joint Chief's Landscape Restoration
Partnership leverages resources from USDA Forest Service, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, National Wild Turkey Federation and Texas A&M Forest
Service to reduce the wildfire threat and improve forest health and water
quality on the Sam Houston National Forest and surrounding non-industrial
private forests. For more information or to apply for assistance click here.
Neches River
and Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration Program, Texas A&M Forest
Service
The Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed
Restoration Program leverages resources from US Fish and Wildlife Service and
Texas A&M Forest Service. The program provides financial assistance to
landowners utilizing prescribed fire for ecological improvement to the Neches
River and Cypress Basin watersheds. This program benefits the public and
natural resources through improving water quality and quantity, controlling
invasive species, and enhancing wildlife habitat. Eligible projects include
private property in the Neches River and Cypress Basin Watersheds. Priority
will be given to prescribed burn treatments that promote native ecosystem
restoration, are in priority watershed protection zones and near public land.
Grant recipients will be reimbursed actual per acre costs associated with
conducting the prescribed burn, not to exceed the maximum reimbursement rate
of $22.50 per acre with a total limit of 800 acres per recipient.