Federal grant applications open for wildfire risk reduction, landscape scale restoration in Hawaiʻi

Three grant opportunities to assist landowners in reducing fire risk and restoring landscapes are now open and accepting applications via the Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

The opportunities include Landscape Scale Restoration grants, Community Wildfire Defense grants and Wildland-Urban Interface grants.

They are funded by the US Forest Service, with full details are available through the Hawaiʻi Awards and Notices Data System.

Landscape Scale Restoration Grants (Oct. 16): Landscape Scale Restoration grants address priority landscapes and/or issues identified in the Hawaiʻi Forest Action Plan and encourage collaborative, science-based restoration projects that encompass a diversity of ownerships at a scale that can address the restoration objectives identified in the project. 

A project proposal must be designed to achieve one or more of the following Landscape Objectives: 

• Reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires. 
• Improve fish and wildlife habitats, including habitats for threatened and endangered species. 
• Maintain or improve water quality and watershed functions. 
• Mitigate invasive species, insect infestation, and disease. 
• Improve important forest ecosystems; and
• Measure ecological and economic benefits including air quality and soil quality and productivity.

Ineligible activities include but are not limited to purchasing land, purchasing technical equipment greater than $5,000 without prior approval by the US Forest Service, work on federal land, construction (e.g., new buildings or roads), and research-related activities.

Submittals will be accepted up to noon HST on Oct. 16. Full details are available at the Hawaiʻi Awards & Notices Data System. Note that this grant opportunity is listed in the same Request for Interest as the Wildland-Urban Interface Grants. Applications should be emailed to Tanya Rubenstein (tanya.rubenstein@hawaii.gov), DLNR Cooperative Resource Management Forester, using the subject header “LSR Request for Interest.”

Community Wildfire Defense Grants (Oct. 21): This program offers funding to assist communities to prevent, plan for, and mitigate wildfire risks. Grants prioritize communities in areas identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by a severe disaster. The program is anchored in the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy:

• Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives.
• Create Fire-Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property.
• Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.

Submittals will be received up to noon HST on Oct. 21. Full details are available at the Hawaiʻi Awards & Notices Data System. Applicants can contact Michael Walker at michael.j.walker@hawaii.gov for more information.

Wildland-Urban Interface Grants: Funds to mitigate risk from wildland fire within the Wildland-Urban Interface are available and awarded annually through a competitive process with emphasis on:

• Hazard fuel reduction in the WUI.
• Information and education.
• Assessment and planning; and
• Monitoring through community and landowner action.

Projects that do not qualify include suppression capacity building, such as the purchase of fire department equipment. Applications must describe how the project connects with the goals of the Hawaiʻi Forest Action Plan and an existing Community Wildfire Protection Plan. 

Submittals will be received up to noon HST on Jan. 5, 2024. Full details are available at the Hawaiʻi Awards & Notices Data System. Note that this grant opportunity is listed in the same Request for Interest as the Landscape Scale Restoration Grants. Applications should be emailed to Michael Walker (michael.j.walker@hawaii.gov), DLNR State Fire Protection Forester, using subject header “WUI Request for Interest.”