The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has announced the allocation of nearly $72 million to support extensive land management projects aimed at restoring forest health and resilience across the state. This funding includes a grant awarded to the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment to enhance forest health in areas affected by the Dixie Fire.
Through its Forest Health Program, Cal Fire has distributed 12 grants to various local and regional partners working on projects spanning state, local, tribal, federal, and private lands. These initiatives are designed to tackle critical forest health issues, reduce wildfire risks, improve ecosystem resilience, and enhance carbon sequestration across California’s diverse landscapes.
The forest health grant projects must focus on large-scale forestlands that involve multiple landowners and jurisdictions, with a minimum size of 800 acres. These projects are expected to be applied across expansive areas to achieve regional forest resilience, prioritizing initiatives that incorporate a mix of activities involving experienced partnerships.
The North Fork Feather All Lands Forest Health project, managed by the Sierra Institute, received $6,999,780 to improve forest health in some of the largest remaining green stands within the Dixie Fire footprint, particularly near Taylorsville and Greenville. The funding will help enhance resilience to drought, pests, and wildfires across various ownerships, building on previous treatments to bolster forest health.
Cal Fire emphasizes the importance of these grants in increasing wildfire resilience and restoring ecosystems post-wildfire. The projects will implement diverse forest management strategies aimed at enhancing wildfire resilience, protecting watersheds, conserving habitats for endangered species, recovering fire-impacted forests, and reintroducing fire as a natural ecological process.
Some funded projects also include community outreach and long-term strategic planning through the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP), which streamlines the California Environmental Quality Act process to shorten review timelines and reduce redundancies. These efforts aim to promote sustainable forest health and support disadvantaged communities while ensuring continuity and effectiveness in forest management.
Approximately three-fourths of the awarded projects will benefit disadvantaged or low-income communities. Beyond environmental and safety improvements, such as reducing catastrophic wildfire risks and enhancing water quality and wildlife habitats, these projects are expected to create significant economic opportunities.
The majority of Cal Fire’s forest health grants are financed through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund, with additional support from California Climate Investments, which channels cap-and-trade revenue toward achieving the state’s climate objectives. This initiative prioritizes investments that bolster the economy, enhance public health, and improve environmental conditions, particularly in
