Southern California Forests and Watersheds – Wildfires Restoration Grant Program Releases 2020 Request for Proposals

WASHINGTON D.C. (January 17, 2019) — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the release of the 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Southern California Forests and Watersheds  – Wildfires Restoration Grant Program (Southern California Wildfires Restoration Program). Approximately $8 million is expected to be available in funding through this opportunity. 

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has partnered with NFWF to develop and implement a grant program to restore the watersheds and ecosystems affected by seven previous fire events. On the Angeles National Forest, this program will address impacts from the Copper, Sayre and Powerhouse fires. On the Los Padres National Forest, the program will address impacts from the Zaca, Piru and Jesusita fires. Collectively these fires burned more than 300,000 acres of National Forest System lands. 

The Southern California Wildfires Restoration Program is a multi-year program to manage and invest monies dedicated to fire recovery on the Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest. Since 2016, NFWF has awarded more than $17 million to nearly 80 planning and restoration projects, while leveraging an additional $10 million in matching funds for a total conservation impact of $27 million.

Through the Southern California Wildfires Restoration Program, NFWF is investing in projects that provide lasting benefits and foster resilience to future wildfire events. Investments will improve the USFS’s capacity to identify and address resource management issues stemming from these fires, aid ecological recovery and repair fire-damaged critical infrastructure such as trails, roads and fuel breaks to support the goals of ecological restoration.

Pre-proposals for this funding opportunity are due February 17, 2020 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The full RFP can be found here. Funding decisions are based on the ability of the applicant to implement strategies that achieve the program priorities and result in measurable conservation outcomes.

Major funding for Southern California Forests and Watersheds - Wildfires Restoration Program is provided by the USFS.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and generated a conservation impact of more than $5.3 billion. Learn more at www.nfwf.org​.