Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program funds three types of activities: hazardous fuels reduction, Wildfire prevention planning, and Wildfire prevention education. Please see the corresponding FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grants Procedural Guide located on the Wildfire Prevention Grants webpage.

Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government

FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grants Proposition 4

The application will consist of a concept proposal followed by review and selection. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal followed by a second review and selection period.  Concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PDT), July 15, 2026.  Full invited proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PST), November 4, 2026.  This solicitation will fund collaborative research that supports forest health and greenhouse‑gas reduction at landscape scales through improved forest and vegetation management across California. This solicitation is purposefully intended to consider research proposals that focus on a broad range of challenging questions relevant to forest and fire management at large spatial scales, and we encourage applications from any discipline that meaningfully intersect with landscape-scale management.  Research funded through this solicitation should be collaborative in nature, and include multiple partners working across organizations, institutions, jurisdictions, and/or disciplines. Projects should substantially advance their field(s) of research and produce meaningful applied benefits for any of the following broad themes:  a)       improved forest or vegetation management strategies and activities to reduce unwanted disturbance impacts, promote recovery after disturbance, enhance carbon storage, sustain and promote biodiversity, improve water and air quality, provide regional economic benefits, or facilitate an adaptive management feedback loop  (including beneficial fire, tribal stewardship, forest fuels reduction, pest management, reforestation, biomass utilization, forest watershed restoration, upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration) at landscape-scales;  b)      Include a bullet point about PODs (from Tadashi and Eric)  c)       Improved understanding of current impacts of large-scale wildfires and other large disturbances, or management strategies within large disturbance footprints, such as second-entry treatments in fire footprints;  d)      Improved predictions of future conditions, disturbance regimes, or treatment effectiveness;  e)      Emissions reductions and/or avoided live vegetation losses, improved long-term carbon storage and sequestration, or improved quantitative assessment of greenhouse gas impacts across large scales; Or  f)        Improved policy related to the California Forest Carbon Plan or other State climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.  The research may – but is not required to – include implementation of forest treatments such as forest fuels reduction, pest management, reforestation, biomass utilization, forest watershed restoration, upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration. The research may – but is not required to – build off of other previous or current implementation or research projects funded through other sources (e.g. Forest Health, Fire Prevention, Tribal Wildfire Resiliency, or other CAL FIRE or non-CAL FIRE grants).

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) Proposition 4 California Climate Bond Grants (RP-RFP-2026-03)

The application will consist of a concept proposal followed by review and selection. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal followed by a second review and selection period.  Concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PDT), July 30, 2026.  Full invited proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PST), November 18, 2026.  The Forest Health Research Program (hereafter “Research Program”) was established as part of CAL FIRE’s plan for implementing the California Forest Carbon Plan. It is one of several CAL FIRE programs funded through the California Climate Investments (CCI) program, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The mission of the Research Program is:  To identify and prioritize research topics in forest health and fire science critical to the State of California To fund sound scientific studies that support forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations within the state To ensure scientific information generated from the program is made available to support decision making and policy To further the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, California Forest Carbon Plan, the California Natural and Working Lands Implementation Plan, CCI, and AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act  The program, procedures and requirements apply only to “stand-alone research” projects, where research-related activities are the only activities proposed. Research activities are no longer eligible as a component of larger management-oriented Forest Health projects.  The following topics have been identified as priorities for study for the Research Program for FY 2024-25. Topics are numbered for reference, but not ranked in terms of priority.  Research proposed under this solicitation must address one or more of these priority topics. Research projects should be focused on and relevant to California ecosystems and their management.  Recovery, restoration, regeneration and reforestation strategies following wildfires and other disturbances in an altered future climate. Implementation, effectiveness, impacts, and tradeoffs of current and alternative management strategies to reduce unwanted wildfire impacts to communities, improve hydrologic functions including water quality and supply, improve air quality, sustain and promote biodiversity, mitigate impacts of pests, pathogens, and invasive species. Methods of ecological monitoring to continually evaluate effectiveness, impacts and benefits of vegetation treatments at various scales. Community resilience to wildfires and other ecological disturbances under current and future climate conditions. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and tribal forest and fire management, especially research by tribal organizations or indigenous researchers. Forest products and utilization of forest residues related to fuel reduction and forest health treatments. Improved prediction of wildland fire spread, behavior, severity, and potential impacts, particularly under extreme weather conditions and/or within the wildland-urban interface.  Improved methods and applications for conducting cost-benefit analysis related to forest restoration, fuel treatments and other forest health interventions.

Individual; Nonprofit; Public Agency; Tribal Government

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) California Climate Investments Grants (RP-RFP-2026-01)

The application will consist of a concept proposal followed by review and selection. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal followed by a second review and selection period.  Concept proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PDT), July 30, 2026.  Full invited proposals are due by 3 p.m. (PST), November 18, 2026.  The Forest Health Research Program (hereafter “Research Program”) was established as part of CAL FIRE’s plan for implementing the California Forest Carbon Plan. It is one of several CAL FIRE programs funded through the California Climate Investments (CCI) program, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The mission of the Research Program is:  To identify and prioritize research topics in forest health and fire science critical to the State of California   To fund sound scientific studies that support forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations within the state   To ensure scientific information generated from the program is made available to support decision making and policy   To further the goals of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, California Forest Carbon Plan, the California Natural and Working Lands Implementation Plan, CCI, and AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act  The program, procedures and requirements apply only to “stand-alone research” projects, where research-related activities are the only activities proposed. The following topics have been identified as priorities for study for the Research Program for FY 2026-27:  Recovery, restoration, regeneration and reforestation strategies following wildfires and other disturbances in an altered future climate.  Implementation, effectiveness, impacts, and tradeoffs of current and alternative management strategies to reduce unwanted wildfire impacts to communities, improve hydrologic functions including water quality and supply, improve air quality, sustain and promote biodiversity, mitigate impacts of pests, pathogens, and invasive species, and/or increase beneficial fire effects.   Methods of ecological monitoring to continually evaluate effectiveness, impacts and benefits of vegetation treatments at various scales.   Community resilience to wildfires and other ecological disturbances under current and future climate conditions. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and tribal forest and fire management, especially research by tribal organizations or indigenous researchers.  Forest products and utilization of forest residues related to fuel reduction and forest health treatments.Improved prediction of wildland fire spread, behavior, severity, and potential impacts, particularly under extreme weather conditions and/or within the wildland-urban interface.   In addition, the following special topic has been identified as priorities for the Research Program for FY 2026-27:  Utilizing novel applications of FireSat Quick Beam Instrument data to answer ecological questions.

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) California Climate Investments Graduate Student Grants (RP-RFP-2026-02)

The program scope includes the improvement of all forest resources including fish and wildlife habitat, and soil and water quality. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land. Cost-shared activities include:  Preparation of a Forest Management Plan by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and RPF Supervision of the following:  Reforestation, Site Preparation, Trees and Planting, Tree Shelters, Stand Improvement, Pre-commercial Thinning or Release, Pruning, Follow-up (includes mechanical, herbicide and/or slash disposal follow-up), Forestland conservation practices / fish and wildlife habitat improvement  Broadcast/controlled/cultural burning is not eligible for CFIP cost share.

Business; Individual; Nonprofit; Other Legal Entity; Public Agency

California Forest Improvement Program

The program will follow a two-phase application process, with concept proposals due by 3 p.m. PDT on June 30, 2026.  ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES  A. Regionally appropriate landscape resilience  B. Community hazardous fuels reduction or modification  C. Prescribed and cultural fire  D. Pest management  E. Reforestation and revegetation  F.  Biomass Utilization  G. Maintenance of and/or improvements to previously established and completed wildfire and landscape resilience projects.  H. Planning: Up to 10% of total funds or $1 million (whichever is less).  I. Workforce Education & Training that is appropriately scaled to the overall project and clearly aligned with its primary objectives.  FUNDING PRIORITIES  A. Multi-benefit projects that have been identified as a regional priority using a transparent prioritization process that integrates data-driven analysis, practitioner expertise, and community input. P  B. Applicants that have demonstrated sufficient administrative, technical, and operational capacity to successfully manage and deliver large, multi-partner projects.  C. Projects that leverage CAL FIRE funds with other state, federal, local, and/or private/philanthropic investments including projects that align program funding across Climate Bond programs.  D. Projects that advance regional capacity to develop, prioritize, and implement wildfire and landscape resilience projects.   E. Projects that have broad involvement from regional stakeholders, including tribes.  F.  Projects that enlist the services of the California Conservation Corps, certified community conservation corps, or tribal corps.   G. Projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations.  H. Projects that advance the State’s strategic goals and priorities.  I. Projects that have environmental compliance completed or have environmental compliance completed for a majority of the sub-projects.

Individual; Nonprofit; Other Legal Entity; Public Agency; Tribal Government

Regional Wildfire & Landscape Resilience Grants

Tribal Wildfire Resilience grants fund projects that serve California Native American tribes, support Traditional Ecological Knowledge and cultural fire, improve forest health through forest fuels reduction, pest management, reforestation, biomass utilization, forest watershed restoration, upper watershed, riparian, and mountain meadow restoration, or research thereof, and directly or indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These projects address critical needs in tribal communities, and may include a combination of:    Implementing & training Traditional Ecological Knowledges & indigenous stewardship  Cultural and prescribed burns  Creation and maintenance of shaded fuel breaks and defensible space  Forest and wildfire resilience projects such as:    reforestation  dead and dying tree removal  understory thinning and/or removal      Forest health & restoration projects  Increasing biodiversity and improving access to and use of traditional foods and culturally significant species  Workforce Development and training programs in fire, forestry, and related Traditional Ecological Knowledge  Mapping projects  Development of restoration plans, fire or forest management plans  Biological and cultural surveys  Environmental compliance and permitting  Fuels management  Fire reintroduction (and planning for fire reintroduction)

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Grant programs

FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grants Proposition 4

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) Proposition 4 California Climate Bond Grants (RP-RFP-2026-03)

$1.0M–$1.5M

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) California Climate Investments Grants (RP-RFP-2026-01)

CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program (FY 2026-27) California Climate Investments Graduate Student Grants (RP-RFP-2026-02)

California Forest Improvement Program

Regional Wildfire & Landscape Resilience Grants

$5.0M–$20.0M

Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants Solicitation 2026

Funder Details

CA

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