FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) California Climate Investments Graduate Student Grants (RP-RFP-2026-02)
🏛 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Jul 10, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for graduate student researchers in California conducting stand-alone forest health and fire science research. Eligible applicants must be graduate students affiliated with academic institutions. Research must address one or more priority topics including wildfire recovery, management strategy effectiveness, ecological monitoring, community resilience, traditional ecological knowledge, forest products utilization, or fire prediction.
The program funds scientific research only—not implementation or demonstration projects. All research must support California's forest management, climate, and wildfire resilience goals. Projects must generate findings applicable to forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations within California.
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Program description
The application will consist of a concept proposal followed by review and selection. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal followed by a second review and selection period. Concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PDT), July 30, 2026. Full invited proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PST), November 18, 2026. The Forest Health Research Program (hereafter “Research Program”) was established as part of CAL FIRE’s plan for implementing the California Forest Carbon Plan. It is one of several CAL FIRE programs funded through the California Climate Investments (CCI) program, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The mission of the Research Program is: To identify and prioritize research topics in forest health and fire science critical to the State of California To fund sound scientific studies that support forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations within the state To ensure scientific information generated from the program is made available to support decision making and policy To further the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, California Forest Carbon Plan, the California Natural and Working Lands Implementation Plan, CCI, and AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act The program, procedures and requirements apply only to “stand-alone research” projects, where research-related activities are the only activities proposed. The following topics have been identified as priorities for study for the Research Program for FY 2026-27: Recovery, restoration, regeneration and reforestation strategies following wildfires and other disturbances in an altered future climate. Implementation, effectiveness, impacts, and tradeoffs of current and alternative management strategies to reduce unwanted wildfire impacts to communities, improve hydrologic functions including water quality and supply, improve air quality, sustain and promote biodiversity, mitigate impacts of pests, pathogens, and invasive species, and/or increase beneficial fire effects. Methods of ecological monitoring to continually evaluate effectiveness, impacts and benefits of vegetation treatments at various scales. Community resilience to wildfires and other ecological disturbances under current and future climate conditions. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and tribal forest and fire management, especially research by tribal organizations or indigenous researchers. Forest products and utilization of forest residues related to fuel reduction and forest health treatments.Improved prediction of wildland fire spread, behavior, severity, and potential impacts, particularly under extreme weather conditions and/or within the wildland-urban interface. In addition, the following special topic has been identified as priorities for the Research Program for FY 2026-27: Utilizing novel applications of FireSat Quick Beam Instrument data to answer ecological questions.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Concept Proposal (preliminary stage)
- Full Proposal (if invited after concept review)
- Research plan and methods
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional affiliation letter or supporting documentation
Program contact
- 📧 FHResearch@fire.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-327-3939
FAQ
Who can apply?
Graduate students conducting independent research projects. Your institution should support the research.
What are the key deadlines?
Concept proposals due July 15, 2026 (3 p.m. PDT). Selected applicants submit full proposals by November 4, 2026 (3 p.m. PST).
What research topics qualify?
Wildfire recovery, management effectiveness, ecological monitoring, community resilience, tribal fire management, forest products, and fire behavior prediction. Check the full priority list.
Is this a two-stage process?
Yes. Concept proposal first, then selected applicants invited for full proposal. Both stages are competitive.
How much can I request?
The pool is $500,000. Individual award amounts not specified. Contact the program for typical award ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly align your research to one of the stated priority topics. Proposals that don't match priorities rarely advance.
- Focus on research with practical application to California forest management or policy. Theory alone is insufficient.
- Demonstrate how your findings will reach forest managers, agencies, or landowners. Dissemination plans strengthen competitiveness.
- In your concept proposal, be concise and specific. Vague or overly broad proposals tend to get screened out.
- Start early. November deadline for full proposals may be tight if you need institutional approvals or preliminary data.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting research projects that focus on implementation or demonstration rather than standalone science. Choosing topics outside the stated priority areas without strong justification. Failing to explain how research results will be used by California resource managers or policymakers.
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