Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands
🏛 Forest Service
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for collaborative forest restoration on non-federal rural lands. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state/local governments, and federally recognized Tribes working on private forest land, state forest land, or local government forest land outside Census areas with over 50,000 people.
Projects must reduce wildfire risk, improve fish and wildlife habitats, maintain water quality, or mitigate invasive species. All applicants except Tribes must obtain State Forester sponsorship. Projects must match federal funds 1:1 with non-federal cost share.
Award range is $100,000–$300,000 for single-state projects and up to $600,000 for multi-state projects. Tribal applicants have separate application streams and are limited to 2 applications.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The Forest Service is offering this one LSR non-federal lands Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) which replaces the three regional (Southern/IITF, Western, and Northeast/Midwestern) NOFOs. The purpose of the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Program is to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. This competitive grant program supports collaborative high impact projects that lead to measurable outcomes on priority forest landscapes, leverage public and private resources, and further priorities identified in a State Forest Action Plan or equivalent science-based restoration strategy. Proposals should reduce wildfire risk, improve fish and wildlife habitats, maintain or improve water quality and watershed function, and/or mitigate invasive plants, insects, and disease.
- Eligible Lands: LSR projects must be conducted on rural non-industrial private forest land, and/or rural state or local government forest land. See NOFO for more definitions. For the purposes of this program, “rural” is defined as all areas outside Census places greater than 50,000 people according to the latest United States Census. Please use the LSR Project Planning Tool (Project Eligibility) to confirm if your proposed project location is eligible within this definition.
- Individual Award Funding:
- Minimum: $100,000 per project. $50,000 per project for the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Freely Associated States of the Republic of Palau (Palau), the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
- Maximum: $300,000 for single-state projects; $600,000 for multi-state projects.
- Cost Share Required: Grant recipients must match (cost share) the Federal grant funds 1:1 with non-Federal sources.
- State Forester Sponsorship: All applications except those submitted by federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations require the relevant State Forester(s) to sponsor the project. Each State Forester may sponsor/participate in up to a total of 10 applications, including up to 5 single-state applications and up to 5 multi-state applications.
- For Tribes and Tribal organizations: Federally Recognized Tribes are limited to 2 applications for this NOFO. There is a separate national LSR NOFO for federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations: USDA-FS-2026-LSR-TRIBAL. Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations may apply to either or both NOFOs but cannot receive more than one award for the same scope of work.
For additional information and requirements, please refer to the NOFO document, which is posted in both the “Related Documents” tab and in the “Instructions” link located in the “Package” tab.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NOFO application form (SF-424 or equivalent)
- Project narrative and work plan
- Budget and budget narrative with cost-share documentation
- Evidence of State Forester sponsorship (if required)
- Letters of commitment from cost-share partners
- Proof of project location eligibility (from LSR Project Planning Tool)
- State Forest Action Plan alignment documentation
Program contact
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 10.742 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.742). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $14,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, state and local governments, conservation organizations, and federally recognized Tribes. Tribal applicants may use a separate NOFO but cannot receive multiple awards for the same work.
Do I need State Forester sponsorship?
Yes, unless you are a federally recognized Tribe. Each State Forester can sponsor up to 10 applications (5 single-state, 5 multi-state).
What activities does this grant fund?
Wildfire risk reduction, fish and wildlife habitat improvement, water quality and watershed restoration, invasive species control, and forest disease mitigation.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. You must match federal grant funds 1:1 with non-federal sources. For example, a $100,000 grant requires $100,000 in matching funds.
What is the deadline and award amount range?
Deadline is January 26, 2027. Awards range from $100,000–$300,000 (single-state) or up to $600,000 (multi-state). Smaller minimums ($50,000) apply to Pacific territories and Freely Associated States.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your project location qualifies as "rural" using the Forest Service's LSR Project Planning Tool before investing in a full application.
- Secure State Forester sponsorship early. Forester capacity is limited (up to 10 applications per Forester), so engage them at the beginning of your planning process.
- Build your cost-share partnerships now. You need 1:1 match funding, so identify and commit non-federal funding sources before submission.
- Align your project with your State Forest Action Plan or equivalent science-based restoration strategy. Reviewers expect clear connection to state priorities.
- Use the NOFO document closely. This is a competitive program with rigorous expectations on collaborative partnerships, measurable outcomes, and landscape-scale impact.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating the difficulty of securing State Forester sponsorship or forgetting to include it in planning. Submitting projects on ineligible urban or peri-urban lands without confirming location using the Project Planning Tool. Proposing work without documented cost-share commitments or realistic match funding sources.
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