This grant award funds partner efforts to provide technical assistance and support to agricultural landowners interested in establishing forested buffers along sensitive lands like streams,…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R6-Pacific Northwest Region awarded the Oregon Department of Forestry $899,414 on August 3, 2026, under the Forest Stewardship Program (CFDA 10.678) to provide technical assistance and support to agricultural landowners establishing forested buffers along sensitive lands through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

The Oregon Department of Forestry will develop and review conservation plans for forestry-related practices, conduct site visits, mentor partner program staff, approve acceptable plans, and perform final installation inspection and approval. The recipient will issue a subaward to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to fund technicians assisting with new enrollments and re-enrollments, tracking project performance over time, and ensuring landowners meet maintenance contract requirements. The award also funds a contract for integrating geospatial data into a digital management planning tool for localized forest conservation planning.

Performance takes place in Oregon with a period of performance extending from August 3, 2026, through April 30, 2031. This is a project grant supporting private landowner engagement in forest stewardship on nonindustrial private forest lands.

This grant award funds partner efforts to provide technical assistance and support to agricultural landowners interested in establishing forested buffers along sensitive lands like streams, wetlands, and wildlife habitat, through the conservation reserve enhancement program. Work includes conservation plan development and review for forestry related practices, site visits, mentoring of partner program staff, approving acceptable plans, and final installation inspection and approval. The partner will also issue a subaward to the oregon watershed enhancement board to fund technicians to assist with new enrollments and RE-enrollments, track performance of projects over time and help ensure landowners meet the maintenance requirements of their contracts. The final aspect of this award will fund a contract for the integration of geospatial data into a digital management planning tool for localized forest conservation planning.