CONTACT: CAL FIRE PIO (916) 651-3473 Calfire.dutypio@fire.ca.gov

RELEASE DATE: October 16, 2024

Sacramento – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is pleased to announce the availability of $4 million in funding for Forest Health Research grants. CAL FIRE is soliciting researchers to contribute groundbreaking work in forest health and wildland fire science, tackling the challenges that are critical to the future of California’s forests and communities.

These grants will support research that directly benefits landowners, resource agencies, fire management organizations, and decision-makers throughout the state. CAL FIRE is seeking innovative proposals that not only generate new knowledge but also develop practical tools and solutions that can make a real impact on forest health and wildfire resilience.

Previously funded research includes a diverse range of projects, from exploring how fuel treatments on public lands affect private landowners, to improving our understanding of fire severity in reburned areas using cutting-edge tools like lidar.

This year, CAL FIRE is placing a special emphasis on refining methods for cost-benefit analyses of forest treatments, ensuring that our strategies are as effective and efficient as possible.

Official Call for Applications:

Forest Health Research Grants Program: The call for concept proposals opens on October 16, 2024. Proposals are due no later than 3:00 PM on November 14, 2024.

A public virtual workshop and applicant office hours will be held during the open application period. Please check the Forest Health Research Grants web pages for dates, times, and locations. The workshop will be recorded and made available on the program web page. 

This program is designed to complement the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Action Plan, the 2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California, and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, which propose to protect lives, property, and resources of California and increase the ability of our natural and working lands to survive and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Forest Health Research Grant Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.

For more information and to sign up for grant email announcements, visit www.fire.ca.gov/grants.

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