June 19, 2025
Sierra Nevada Conservancy launches new Wildfire and Forest Resilience grant round to reduce fuels, protect communities
New grant program expedited by Governor’s emergency proclamation to advance wildfire resilience throughout state
In order to help build wildfire resilience in the Sierra-Cascade region, the SNC has launched its Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program.
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) is accepting statements of interest for its Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program. Funded through Proposition 4 (Climate Bond) and fast-tracked by Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency proclamation, this immediate action program will allocate $10 million for projects within SNC’s Sierra-Cascade service area that will protect people and communities.
Passed in November of 2024, the Climate Bond allocates $1.5 billion to wildfire and forest-resilience programs. In March 2025, the Governor signed an executive order authorizing $170 million of Climate Bond funds to be issued to a variety of state entities to expedite forest-health, prescribed fire, and fuel-reduction projects that will advance wildfire resilience statewide. The SNC received just under $31 million of this allotment and at its recent June meeting, the SNC Governing Board approved grant guidelines for the first cycle of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program that will distribute $10 million.
“The number of high-severity wildfires across the state are increasing and the damage to lives, communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and to long-term health is also on the rise in a warming climate,” said Angela Avery, executive officer with the SNC. “State residents know this all too well, which is why the Climate Bond passed with overwhelming support. State legislators are now ensuring the necessary work to protect our vital natural landscapes and communities are getting implemented and completed by not only immediately allocating some of the funds, but fast-tracking wildfire-resilience projects where possible.”
Program goals and process
The primary focus of this cycle of SNC’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program is protecting people and communities. Additionally, the program aims to support projects that result in a combination of multiple watershed, ecosystem, and community benefits. Examples of eligible projects include the removal of hazardous trees, creation of or improvements to strategic fuel breaks, removal of vegetation for community defensible space or for safer ingress and egress routes, cultural burning or prescribed fire for strategic fuels reduction.
The Governor’s emergency proclamation issued in March resulted in the creation of the Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), which suspends certain state laws and regulations to enable critical wildfire-safety projects to proceed expeditiously, while at the same time protecting public health and the environment. Projects approved under the EPP, or with completed environmental compliance, are eligible for consideration under this program.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a public agency, nonprofit organization, or a tribal entity. Projects must be located within, or provide services to, the SNC’s service area as defined by SNC governing legislation – an area including the mountains and foothills of Sierra Nevada range, much of California’s Cascade range, the Mono Basin, Owens Valley, and parts of the Klamath Mountains. All projects funded under this immediate action program must be ready to proceed upon award with on-the-ground work starting no later than October 15, 2026. The expectation is that projects will be completed within two years of commencement.
To initiate consideration of a project, an applicant must submit a Statement of Interest, which briefly summarizes the project concept. The Statement of Interest form and submission instructions can be found on the SNC Grants webpage. The SNC has dedicated Area Representatives for each county in the service area. Applicants may contact the appropriate Area Representative to discuss project concepts.
Proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis until January 31, 2026, or as long as funding is available under this program. Recommendations for grant approval may be made to the SNC Governing Board on a quarterly basis.
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