Eligibility
Learn if your property qualifies for funding through the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP).
Whether you’re developing a new Forest Management Plan (FMP) or ready to implement work on the ground, here’s how to find out if you’re eligible, and how projects are prioritized for funding.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
Quickly see if your property and project are a fit for NBFIP before you apply.
Who Can Apply
- Private, non-industrial landowners in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, or Sonoma Counties
- Properties with 5 to 5000 acres of forested land
- Owner of record or written permission from the landowner
- You’re able to fund your portion of the cost share until reimbursement.
Types of Projects
- Forest Management Plans (FMPs) – professional assessment & roadmap
- Implementation Projects – on-the-ground work: thinning, pruning, planting, shaded fuel breaks, removals
- Habitat restoration, erosion control, and related forest-health practices
Property Location Criteria
- Located in an eligible county (outside incorporated city limits, where applicable)
- Preference for high wildfire-risk areas and Disadvantaged/Low-Income (DAC/SDAC) communities
- Meets any site-specific requirements in program guidelines
How Projects Are Ranked
When more applications are received than available funding, NBFIP uses a points-based ranking system to decide which projects will be funded first. Each eligible project is reviewed and scored according to several factors that reflect how impactful and ready it is to implement.
Projects earn points for qualities such as:
Greater cost-share commitment (the landowner requests a lower reimbursement rate, freeing more funds for others),
Larger acreage treated or collaborations between multiple properties,
Existing Forest Management Plans, which show a project is well-planned and shovel-ready, and
Location in fire-prone or disadvantaged communities, where the work has added social and ecological benefit.
Once each factor is scored, the points are added up to create a total ranking score.
Projects with the highest total points are awarded funding first, until all program funds for that round are allocated.
This ensures that the NBFIP invests in projects that provide the greatest overall benefit to forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety.
Determining Your Eligibility
✅ Your property is in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, or Sonoma County.
✅ You own or manage 5 to 5,000 acres of forested land.
✅ Your project improves forest health or reduces fire risk.
✅ You’re prepared to work with an RCD and follow program guidelines.
✅ You’re able to fund your portion of the cost share until reimbursement.
If your property meets the requirements, you’re ready to take the next step toward funding a healthier forest.
Ready To Apply?
