Forest Health Research Program — California Climate Investments

The Forest Health Research Program is administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) through its Fire and Resource Assessment Program. The program was established as part of California’s broader strategy to implement the California Forest Carbon Plan and advance statewide climate and wildfire resilience goals. It is funded through California Climate Investments and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, reflecting its alignment with the state’s environmental and climate mitigation priorities. The program’s mission is to support high-quality scientific research that informs forest management, wildfire resilience, and policy decisions across California ecosystems. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support original scientific research that addresses critical forest health and wildfire-related challenges in California. The program emphasizes research that contributes to improved understanding of fire behavior, ecosystem resilience, climate adaptation, and forest management strategies. Projects must align with one or more priority research topics identified by CAL FIRE, including wildfire recovery, vegetation management effectiveness, ecological monitoring, community resilience, traditional ecological knowledge, forest product utilization, and predictive modeling of wildfire dynamics. Funding is structured across multiple research project types, including general wildfire and forest research, demonstration state forest research, science synthesis and tool development, and special topic research. Awards vary depending on project type, with funding ranges generally between 400000 and 900000 dollars per project. The program intends to award at least 4000000 dollars under this solicitation, with the possibility of additional awards if further funding becomes available. Funds may be used for a wide range of research-related costs, including personnel, equipment, travel, data collection, and analysis, provided all expenses are directly tied to the proposed research activities and comply with program guidelines. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as public and private universities, nonprofit organizations, local, state, and federal agencies, Native American tribes, and private landowners. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to conduct scientific research and manage grant funds, including the ability to obtain a federal tax identification number. Projects must focus on California ecosystems, and while some out-of-state study areas may be included, they must be directly relevant to California’s forest and fire management context. The application process follows a two-stage structure beginning with a concept proposal submitted through the Euna Grants Portal. Concept proposals are reviewed for eligibility and technical merit, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal. The full application requires detailed documentation including a scope of work, budget, project workbook, letters of commitment, and supporting materials. Applications are evaluated based on criteria such as research relevance, methodological rigor, feasibility, alignment with state priorities, and potential impact. Key deadlines for this funding cycle include a concept proposal submission deadline of July 30, 2026, followed by a full proposal deadline of November 18, 2026 for invited applicants. Final award decisions are expected in early 2027, with project start dates no earlier than February 2027. Projects may extend through December 2030 depending on the proposed timeline. The program requires ongoing reporting, including quarterly progress updates and a final technical report, and emphasizes public access to research findings. Program contacts include designated CAL FIRE staff who provide support throughout the application and grant management process. General inquiries can be directed via email, and specific program staff are available for technical and administrative questions. The program is expected to recur annually or periodically, supporting ongoing investment in forest health research across California.

Align proposal clearly with priority research topics; demonstrate strong scientific methodology and feasibility; provide clear connection to California forest management needs; ensure all required documents are complete and within formatting limits