USDA Forest Service is seeking grant applications for forest restoration projects on public and tribal lands in New Mexico

The USDA Forest Service is seeking grant applications for forest restoration projects on public and tribal lands in New Mexico by 5 PM, MST, Tuesday, February 27, 2018. “Approximately $3 million will be awarded under the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program this year in New Mexico,” said Southwestern Regional Forester Cal Joyner. “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 on public and tribal lands. 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. Proponents are encouraged to submit proposals for projects that facilitate landscape-scale, multi-jurisdictional efforts such as NEPA planning, landscape assessments or Community Wildfire Protection Plans. Tribes, state and local governments, educational institutions, private landowners, conservation organizations, non-profit groups, and other interested public and private entities are encouraged to apply. “Last year the Forest Service awarded $3.4 million for 10 CFRP grants,” said Joyner. “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, please contact one of the following program coordinators in your area: Forest, City Coordinator Phone Email Carson, Taos Raul Hurtado 575-758-6344 rehurtado@fs.fed.us Cibola, Albuquerque Ian Fox 505-346-3814 ifox@fs.fed.us Gila, Silver City Julia F. Rivera 575-388-8212 jfrivera@fs.fed.us Lincoln, Alamogordo Mark Cadwallader 575-434-7375 mcadwallader@fs.fed.us Santa Fe, Santa Fe Reuben Montes 505-438-5356 rmontes@fs.fed.us The Forest Service will be sponsoring grant writing workshops throughout New Mexico for those interested in learning more about the program and the application process. Contact the program coordinators listed above for more details. Information is also available at the Southwestern Region website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp. The Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 2018 Annual Workshop will be held on January 10-11, 2018 in the Jemez Rooms of the Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87508 (Jemez Rooms), 1-505-428-1000. The workshop is open to the public and there is no charge for attending. A separate email will be going out shortly with more information on the Workshop including the agenda. Thank you, Walter Dunn Walter Dunn, Program Manager Collaborative Forest Restoration/Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes Forest Service Cooperative & International Forestry, Southwestern Region p: 505-842-3425 c: 505-301-1291 f: 505-842-3165 wdunn@fs.fed.us 333 Broadway Blvd., SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people Posted by Eddy County E