The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity program aims to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects to improve forest health and fire resilience and increase carbon sequestration in forests throughout California.
Six regional entities are using block grants to conduct regional planning, develop projects, conduct outreach, and implement landscape-level forest health projects consistent with the California Forest Carbon Plan and Executive Order B-52-18. Two statewide block grant recipients are using their grants to support a statewide forest health and fire resilience network, provide capacity building in underserved regions and provide technical assistance statewide.
Broad and inclusive outreach and involvement in decision-making is a priority of the program. Regional block grantees are expected to partner extensively across their region to identify priorities and develop projects. Current block grantees partner heavily with state, federal, tribal, and local governments as well as water agencies, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and other nonprofits.
The program funds local partner capacity development to ensure equitable participation and representation in planning and project development.
This is a California Natural Resources Agency program administered by the Department of Conservation.
In 2021 the program received an additional $50 million in early action funding to expand the program. The expanded program will include four new regional grantees to cover areas not included in with the initial funding. Existing regional block grantees will receive additional funding to expand their programs. The
2021 Guidelines were released in August 2021.
Southern Region Grants
Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (San Bernardino/Riverside Counties)
The Inland Empire RCD RFFC is providing local leadership, developing a regional priority plan, developing local Fire Safe Council capacity, and implementing demonstration projects.
Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County
rcdsandiego.org
The RCD of Greater San Diego County (RCDGSC) is developing a Regional Priority Plan for San Diego County, promoting healthy forest practices through demonstration projects, developing a coordinated effort to reduce the Gold Spotted Oak Borer threat, providing fire management resources to local communities and partners, and developing a Community Wildfire Protection (CWPP) training course.
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
smmc.ca.gov
The Conservancy is working with the Mountains and Recreation and Conservation Authority and the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Alliance to develop a Regional Priority Plan to identify fire resilience priorities for chaparral and forested ecosystems. Partners in the Fire Safe Alliance include state and county fire officials, state parks, and local stakeholders.
Ignition Prevention – The Conservancy actively works across its lands to prevent roadside and other fire ignition. Funds from this program increase their capacity to prevent and identify ignitions.
Northern Region Grants
NCRP is developing a regional priority plan, facilitating project development to generate implementation ready projects, and providing grants for demonstration projects in the North Coast Region.
Central Region Grants
State Coastal Conservancy
scc.ca.gov
The Conservancy is working with subgrantees to develop a regional priority plan to define fire resiliency priorities, conduct vegetation management and prescribed burn projects, and build capacity throughout the region.
Sierra-Cascade-Inyo Region Grants
The conservancy is working to increase regional capacity to plan and implement projects that improve forest health and fire resiliency.
Statewide Grants
WRTC's RFFC grant focuses on technical capacity building, peer networking to advance the dissemination of best practices, and coordination.
CFSC’s grant focuses on providing technical assistance to existing local fire safe councils, helping start new fire safe councils, and providing resources for fire safe councils and their partners.
Additional Information
Important Links
Contact Us
Department of Conservation
Program Analyst
Jenny.E.DiStefano@conservation.ca.gov(916) 324-0774
California Climate Investments
The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.
