North Bay Forest Improvement Program 2021 – 2022 Summary
The North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP) is now two years into a multi-year process. As an organization we are very proud of this program, which started as an idea, became a pilot, and is now a model for resiliency.
Over the past two years we have disbursed over $350,000 in incentive payments to landowners who have improved 230 acres of forestland across Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties. Most importantly, we have helped change the landscape across the region, provided financial and technical assistance to landowners, enacted equity in cost-share, and implemented an innovative model that is adaptable to any community.
NBFIP as a program is always evolving in response to input from our funder CAL FIRE, partners, and landowners. We are committed to a collaborative process that honors the innovative and effective model of NBFIP. We are continuously striving to make this program accessible, efficient, and intuitive for all involved, especially the landowners.
An exciting addition to the program this year is the option for landowners to now apply for funds for the creation of a Forest Management Plan (FMP). The FMP is a separate application process from project implementation and we suggest landowners consider this as a first step before applying for project implementation funds. More information about applying for an FMP can be found on our website here.
We are proud of how this program has helped landowners thus far and are extremely grateful for all of our partners and the hard work they have contributed to this program. We are looking forward to the ways that this program will continue to help both individual landowners with their goals and community resilience efforts in North Bay forestland in the years to come.
NBFIP staff. From left to right: Alex Wilbanks (Napa RCD), Rosa Brandt (RNBF), Ellen Murphy (Mendocino RCD), Genevieve Tarino (Sonoma RCD), Doug Turk (Mendocino RCD), Gabe Seidman (Napa RCD), Tracy Cline (CLERC), Jason Wells (Sonoma RCD), Will Evans (CLERC), and Grant Coleman (CLERC).
