2026 Wildfire Resilience Block Grants

The Wildfire Resilience Block Grant Program is administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as part of the Proposition 4 California Climate Bond initiative. The program builds on earlier legislative efforts such as Senate Bill 901 and is designed to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk across California. It operates by providing large block grants to eligible partner organizations, which then distribute funding and technical assistance to nonindustrial forest landowners. The overarching goal is to enhance forest resilience, support reforestation, and contribute to long term carbon storage and climate mitigation strategies. The primary purpose of the program is to fund landscape scale reforestation and forest management activities that address wildfire risk, ecosystem degradation, and climate change impacts. Eligible uses of funding include reforestation, forest management planning, technical assistance, site preparation, tree planting, vegetation management, and follow up maintenance. Activities must support ecological forest improvement and cannot be commercial in nature. The program explicitly excludes activities such as real estate acquisition, research, infrastructure unrelated to forestry practices, and afforestation on historically non forested land. All revenues generated through funded activities must be reinvested into the project to further program objectives. Funding for the program is substantial, with up to ten million dollars available for the fiscal cycle. Projects are expected to operate at a landscape scale and typically involve multiple landowners within a defined geographic area. Applicants do not need to identify individual project sites at the time of application but must describe the general area and types of activities proposed. Priority is given to projects requesting between one million and four million dollars and those that demonstrate strong climate benefits, including greenhouse gas reduction or resilience to climate impacts. Eligible applicants include local and state government agencies, special districts, and nonprofit organizations with 501c3 status. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to manage a forestry assistance program and comply with environmental regulations such as the California Environmental Quality Act. Projects must occur on nonindustrial forest lands ranging from three to five thousand acres and must prioritize practices such as thinning, planting, and vegetation management. The program also emphasizes equitable distribution of funds, requiring that at least forty percent of funding benefits disadvantaged or vulnerable communities. The application process is conducted in two stages. Applicants first submit a concept proposal that outlines project goals, activities, and expected benefits. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full proposal with detailed project plans, budgets, and supporting documentation. Applications are submitted through an online grants portal and must include required materials such as project descriptions, maps, greenhouse gas documentation, and letters of commitment. Evaluation criteria focus on project effectiveness, organizational capacity, alignment with program goals, cost effectiveness, and community impact. Key deadlines include a concept proposal submission deadline in early August and a full proposal deadline in early October. Final award decisions are expected by the end of the calendar year. Successful applicants enter into a formal grant agreement and must complete all project activities by January 31, 2031. Reporting requirements include quarterly progress updates, geospatial data submissions, and a final report summarizing outcomes and impacts. The program is recurring and tied to broader state climate and forest resilience strategies. It aligns with multiple California initiatives, including the Forest Carbon Plan and the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan. By combining financial support with technical assistance, the program aims to build regional capacity, support sustainable forest management, and reduce the long term risks associated with wildfire and climate change.

Emphasize landscape scale impact; demonstrate CEQA readiness; align with climate goals; show strong partnerships and cost effectiveness