The Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program (LSR), administered by the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and funded by the USDA Forest Service's State and Private Forestry branch, aims to support science-based forest restoration initiatives across Idaho’s priority landscapes. This competitive grant program is designed to advance goals outlined in state-level Forest Action Plans, with desired outcomes including reduced wildfire risk, improved habitat for fish and wildlife, enhanced watershed function, better air and soil quality, and control of invasive species and forest pests.
Eligible projects must align with the Idaho Forest Action Plan and occur within designated Priority or Special Landscape Areas, as identified via the Priority Landscape Area Finder. The LSR grant encourages cross-boundary and collaborative approaches, though funds may not be used for activities on federal lands. Instead, the focus is on rural and nonindustrial private lands, as well as state-owned lands outside urban areas. Recent successful projects, such as the Blackfoot River Restoration Project, have demonstrated the grant’s capacity to fund innovative ecological improvements that benefit native species and landscape resilience.
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local government agencies, federally recognized Tribes, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, and educational institutions. Individual landowners are not permitted to apply directly. For proposals with fire mitigation as a primary objective, inclusion in a County Wildfire Protection Plan or equivalent hazard mitigation document is required, along with coordination with local planning entities.
Applications open during the Fall/Winter period, with a final submission deadline generally falling in late Winter or early Spring. For FY26, proposals were due by March 7, 2025, and the IDL hosted a planning webinar on January 30, 2025. The submission process requires completion of a proposal packet that includes a signed acknowledgement form, budget guidelines, and the project proposal itself. Submission is completed via email to the designated IDL grant coordinator.
Award decisions for selected projects are expected by Fall 2026, following internal review and further development with IDL through the spring and summer months. Funded entities will enter into formal agreements with the Forest Service and IDL before beginning work. Projects can receive up to $240,000 in reimbursable funding, and a 1:1 match is required for most applicants. The program is expected to recur annually, with future proposal opportunities anticipated in early 2026.
Projects that align closely with the Idaho Forest Action Plan and demonstrate clear cross-boundary coordination across eligible lands tend to score more competitively.
