Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2025 CFP
The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) is a competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, under State, Private and Tribal Forestry. Its core focus is helping communities permanently protect forestland by funding the fee simple acquisition (outright purchase) of private forest land to create community forests. The program is designed to prevent forests from being converted to non-forest uses and to ensure those lands continue to deliver long-term public value.
CFP funding is aimed at projects that produce clear community benefits. These benefits include guaranteed public recreation opportunities, environmental gains (such as habitat protection, water quality benefits, and climate-related resilience), economic benefits tied to healthy forests and local use, and forest-based educational programming. A key requirement is that public access must be provided for every funded project, meaning the land cannot be acquired and then closed off from the community as a private preserve.
Eligible applicants fall into three main categories. Local governments can apply, including municipal governments, county governments, and other local governmental entities that have jurisdiction over local land use decisions. Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible, including Alaska Native Corporations. In addition, qualified conservation nonprofit organizations may apply if they meet the standards aligned with Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (generally, nonprofits organized and operated for conservation purposes, typically including 501(c)(3) organizations) and operate in line with one or more recognized conservation purposes.
The application process is routed through state or tribal channels rather than being submitted directly by most applicants to the federal office. Local governments and nonprofit applicants must submit their applications to the State Forester in the state where the property is located. Tribal applicants must submit to equivalent Tribal government officials. The deadline for applications to be received by State Foresters or Tribal governments is January 13, 2025. After that, State Foresters or Tribal government officials are responsible for forwarding applications to the appropriate USDA Forest Service Regional Office (or the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, where applicable) by February 10, 2025.
Program authority and compliance requirements are tied to federal law, specifically Section 7A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C. 2103d), as amended. Applicants should expect projects to be evaluated for alignment with that statutory purpose: permanent forest conservation through acquisition, protection from conversion pressure, and delivery of sustained public benefits with required access.
From the posted opportunity details, this funding is listed under CFDA 10.689 and is offered as a grant under the “Natural Resources” activity area. The funding opportunity number is USDA FS 2025 CFP. The stated award ceiling is $600,000. The opportunity was created on October 23, 2024, and the original closing date is January 13, 2025 (the deadline for submission to State Foresters or Tribal officials).Apply for USDA FS 2025 CFP
- The Forest Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.689.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP)?
The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) is a competitive grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, under State, Private and Tribal Forestry. It is designed to help communities permanently protect forestland by funding the fee simple acquisition (outright purchase) of private forest land to create community forests.
What is the main purpose of CFP funding?
The program is intended to prevent forests from being converted to non-forest uses and to ensure the protected lands continue to provide long-term public value through permanent forest conservation and ongoing community benefits.
What types of projects does CFP fund?
CFP funds fee simple acquisition of private forest land (outright purchase) so that the land can be permanently protected and managed as a community forest. The core project type described is acquisition for permanent protection rather than temporary conservation measures.
Does CFP fund the purchase of private forest land?
Yes. The core activity described is funding the fee simple acquisition (outright purchase) of private forest land to create community forests and protect those forests from conversion to non-forest uses.
What does "fee simple acquisition" mean in this program?
Within the CFP description, fee simple acquisition means outright purchase of the private forest land (full ownership acquisition) for permanent conservation as a community forest.
What community benefits are CFP projects expected to provide?
CFP is aimed at projects that deliver clear community benefits, including guaranteed public recreation opportunities, environmental gains (such as habitat protection, water quality benefits, and climate-related resilience), economic benefits tied to healthy forests and local use, and forest-based educational programming.
Is public access required for CFP-funded projects?
Yes. A key requirement is that public access must be provided for every funded project. The land cannot be acquired with CFP funds and then closed off from the community as a private preserve.
Who is eligible to apply for CFP funding?
Eligible applicants fall into three categories: (1) local governments (including municipal governments, county governments, and other local governmental entities with jurisdiction over local land use decisions), (2) federally recognized Indian Tribes (including Alaska Native Corporations), and (3) qualified conservation nonprofit organizations that meet standards aligned with Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operate in line with one or more recognized conservation purposes.
Are county and municipal governments eligible applicants?
Yes. Local governments are eligible, including municipal governments and county governments, as well as other local governmental entities that have jurisdiction over local land use decisions.
Are federally recognized Tribes eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible applicants under this opportunity.
Are Alaska Native Corporations eligible under CFP?
Yes. The eligibility description includes Alaska Native Corporations under the category of federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Can a conservation nonprofit apply?
Yes, if it is a qualified conservation nonprofit organization meeting the standards aligned with Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (generally, nonprofits organized and operated for conservation purposes, typically including 501(c)(3) organizations) and operating in line with one or more recognized conservation purposes.
Where do applicants submit their CFP application?
Most applicants do not submit directly to the federal office. Local governments and nonprofit applicants must submit their applications to the State Forester in the state where the property is located. Tribal applicants submit to equivalent Tribal government officials.
Do applicants submit their applications directly to the USDA Forest Service?
Typically, no. The process is routed through state or tribal channels: applications go first to the State Forester (for local governments and nonprofits) or to equivalent Tribal government officials (for Tribal applicants). Those officials then forward applications to the appropriate USDA Forest Service office.
What is the deadline to submit an application?
The deadline for applications to be received by State Foresters or Tribal governments is January 13, 2025.
Is January 13, 2025 the federal submission deadline?
January 13, 2025 is the deadline for submission to State Foresters or Tribal officials. After that, State Foresters or Tribal government officials forward applications to the appropriate USDA Forest Service Regional Office (or the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, where applicable) by February 10, 2025.
What happens after the state or tribal deadline?
After applications are received by State Foresters or Tribal government officials (by January 13, 2025), those officials are responsible for forwarding the applications to the appropriate USDA Forest Service Regional Office (or the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, where applicable) by February 10, 2025.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The stated award ceiling is $600,000.
What is the program authority for CFP?
The program authority and compliance requirements are tied to federal law: Section 7A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C. 2103d), as amended.
How will projects be evaluated under CFP?
Applicants should expect projects to be evaluated for alignment with the statutory purpose described: permanent forest conservation through acquisition, protection from conversion pressure, and delivery of sustained public benefits with required public access.
What is the CFDA number for this funding?
From the posted opportunity details, this funding is listed under CFDA 10.689.
What activity area is this grant listed under?
The opportunity is offered as a grant under the "Natural Resources" activity area.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FS 2025 CFP.
When was this opportunity created and when does it close?
The opportunity was created on October 23, 2024. The original closing date is January 13, 2025 (the deadline for submission to State Foresters or Tribal officials).
Where must the property be located for application routing purposes?
For local governments and nonprofit applicants, the application must be submitted to the State Forester in the state where the property is located. Tribal applicants submit through equivalent Tribal government officials.
What kinds of environmental benefits are highlighted by CFP?
The opportunity highlights environmental gains such as habitat protection, water quality benefits, and climate-related resilience as examples of community benefits CFP projects can deliver.
What kinds of non-environmental benefits are highlighted by CFP?
The opportunity highlights guaranteed public recreation opportunities, economic benefits tied to healthy forests and local use, and forest-based educational programming as examples of community benefits CFP projects can deliver.
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