Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Cost Share Program - 2008
SPB Cost Share Application Form - PDF or Word
IRS forms - irs.gov
The purpose of this cost share program is to help landowners implement various silvicultural practices that will either prevent, or minimize, impacts of future southern pine beetle infestations or to restore areas already impacted by these destructive insects. The primary silvicultural practices that are targeted under this prevention program are those that enhance the health and vigor of existing pine stands by managing stand density and competition levels. Limited funds are available for establishing low - density pine or hardwood stands that should resist southern pine beetle attacks in the future.
Technical assistance will be provided to landowners by the local county GFC forester who will take applications, evaluate the site, and then determine the steps the landowner should take to expect successful results (brief management plan). The forester will then inspect the area once the practice is completed to determine if the management plan was successfully implemented.
Some general annual guidelines for this program are:
- Applicant must own property or have authority to carry out practice (such as Power of Attorney or a controlling interest in the ownership).
- Landowner must sign an application to officially apply for cost share and return to GFC project forester for the county of ownership.
- Program is open to private non-industrial landowners as well as lands owned by local governments (Cities, Counties, Board of Education, etc.)
- There is a $5,000 maximum for direct southern pine beetle suppression treatments.
- There is a $10,000 maximum for non-commercial thinning, and release treatments; and a $2,500 maximum for prescribed burning.
- There is a $5,000 maximum for the restoration tree planting practice and only areas impacted directly by southern pine beetles are eligible.
- Landowners may apply for more than one practice each year if the total cost share payments do not exceed these maximum amounts.
- Landowner must own a minimum of 10 acres of commercial forest land.
- Practices installed before the landowner is approved for funding are not allowed.
- Practice will have a 10 year lifespan and if it is destroyed, landowner will have to repay the cost share for the affected acreage.
- All practices must comply with the Recommended Best Management Practices.
- Tree planting practices will include low-density pine planting with Loblolly, Slash, Shortleaf, White, and Longleaf Pine (in traditional Longleaf range counties only), and hardwood planting.
- Prevention practices will include: non-commercial thinning, release treatment, and prescribed burning. Landowners statewide can apply for these practices.
- Limited resource landowners will receive priority funding, and landowners who feel they may qualify for this should contact their local county GFC forester.
Cost share program funds are provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service |
