2021 Immediate Action Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program

The specific focus of the 2021 Immediate Action Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program is the implementation of forest health projects that address wildfire recovery and resilience and support the goals of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and SNC’s Watershed Improvement Program (WIP). California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan identifies three goals that are strongly aligned with the WIP: healthy and resilient natural places, safe communities, and sustainable economies. Both plans also stress the importance of climate resiliency, regionally tailored solutions, the linkages between ecological and economic health, the importance of low-intensity fire, and the need to work strategically across land ownership boundaries. The program aims to support projects that result in a combination of multiple watershed, ecosystem, and community benefits. Examples of such benefits include reduced likelihood of high-intensity fire and the negative consequences of such fires, protection and enhancement of natural resources, habitat and recreation, improved air and water quality, increased carbon sequestration and reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions, and supporting regional economies. To be eligible to receive a grant award from the SNC under this program, projects must meet all of the following criteria: 1)    Have completed environmental compliance 2)    Be located within the Sierra Nevada Region as defined by current SNC governing legislation 3)    Be consistent with the SNC mission and program areas as defined in the SNC Strategic Plan. 4)    Be consistent with the requirements of the funding source and budget provisions. 5)    All project implementation MUST be complete by 01/01/2025. 6)    Request no less than $200,000. 7)    Results in a clear, demonstrable, and enduring public benefit Consistent with provisions of the program funding and objectives of the proposed project, the SNC may give favorable consideration to projects which involve California Native American tribes, employ a collaborative approach in project development or implementation; directly benefit severely disadvantaged (SDAC) or disadvantaged (DAC) communities; leverage private, federal, or local resources; or enable the equitable geographic distribution of SNC resources. Application Process: Projects must be developed in collaboration with SNC. Please contact the appropriate contact SNC Area Representative  or other SNC staff to determine if the project meets SNC criteria. The Area Representative will share the proposal form with the applicant and assist in developing the project. Proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis as funding is available. Recommendations will be made to the SNC Governing Board no less than quarterly. Please read and review the full grant program guidelines here.