Payment Rates & Covered Activities
Understand how cost-share reimbursements are calculated and what kinds of forest-health work are eligible.
How Incentive Dollars Work
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?
