This cooperative agreement will fund hazardous fuels reduction on private lands surrounding the okefenokee swamp in georgia and florida via active forest management

Wildfire is a key threat to public and private land in and around the okefenokee, but private landowners can help to mitigate the risk on their land and to surrounding communities by reducing fuel loads in their forests. Hazardous fuel reduction in overgrown forests can also result in many CO-benefits such as soil rejuvenation, invasive species control, insect and disease control, and improved habitat for wildlife. Active forest management to reduce fuel loads is vital to maintain healthy forest ecosystems, but there is often a lack of resources for landowners to conduct this work on a larger scale.activities performed through this agreement may include, but are not limited to, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, fireline establishment and maintenance, and herbicide application to reduce fuel loads and improve forest stands. The forest landowners association (FLA) will be responsible for distributing funds allocated through this cooperative agreement for hazardous fuels reduction work on identified private lands. The agreement will also include funding for educational activities such as learn and burns or other events that demonstrate the benefits of prescribed burning, forestry best management practices, and other forms of active forest management in the southeast. FLA will hold sub agreements with private landowners and managers in areas surrounding the okefenokee swamp in georgia and florida that are identified for hazardous fuels reduction work over the course of this grant. FLA and the service will conduct initial site visits as well as follow-up monitoring to ensure project success. The expected outcomes and deliverables for this project are healthier and more fire-resilient private forestlands that can mitigate the spread of potential wildfires in and around the okefenokee while simultaneously providing the CO-benefits mentioned above. The project will also result in communication, trust and relationships forged between landowners and the service. Lastly, the educational component of this project will result in better understanding among landowners and other forest stakeholders about the importance of fuels management on private lands to benefit forest health and resiliency as well as native wildlife and plant species.