Southwestern Region

Forest Service Seeks Collaborative Forest Restoration Grant Proposals

ALBUQUERQUE (October 17, 2007) -  The USDA Forest Service is seeking grant proposals for forest restoration projects on public and tribal lands in New Mexico by Monday, March 3, 2008.

“About $4 million will be awarded under the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program this year in New Mexico,” said Southwestern Regional Forester Harv Forsgren.  “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 different 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.

Proposals should reflect local and traditional knowledge and values in finding creative ways to reduce the number and density of small diameter trees on public lands.  Proposals that highlight methods in which small diameter trees can be used in an economical fashion to create sustainable forests and communities are of particular interest.

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.  Collaborative partnerships are sought to create local employment and/or training opportunities while accomplishing forest restoration objectives

“Last year the Forest Service received 27 grant proposals requesting more than $8.6 million,” said Forsgren.  “A technical advisory panel reviewed the proposals and made recommendations to us on the proposals that best met the objectives of the program.  The Forest Service then awarded 13 grants totaling approximately $4.1 million.”

For questions regarding the Program or to develop project proposals, please contact one of the following program coordinators in your area:

National Forest/City	Program Coordinator	Phone
Carson, Taos	Ignacio Peralta	505-758-6344
Cibola, Albuquerque	Tom Marks	505-346-3823
Gila, Silver City	Craig Cowie	505-388-8210
Lincoln, Alamogordo	Connie Zipperer	505-434-7297
Santa Fe, Santa Fe	Reuben Montes	505-438-7892

Additional information may be obtained from:
Walter Dunn at 505-842-3425, wdunn@fs.fed.us
John Phillips at 505-842-3289, jphillips@fs.fed.us
Information is also available at the Southwestern Region website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/spf/cfrp. 

Completed grant proposals must be received at the following address by 5:00 pm MST, March 3, 2008:

State & Private Forestry
2008 CFRP Proposal
USDA Forest Service
Cooperative and International Forestry, Room 329
333 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Tel: (505) 842-3289