Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Cost Share Program - 2011
SPB Prevention-Suppression Contract - for non-commercial thinning, pine release, prescribed burning, SPB suppression
SPB Restoration-Reforestation Contract - for planting hardwoods, longleaf, and pines
IRS forms - irs.gov
Income Tax on Cost Share Payment from the Forest Health Protection Program - U.S. Forest Service
The purpose of this cost share program is to help landowners implement various silvicultural practices that will prevent (or minimize) impacts of future southern pine beetle infestations, to suppress current southern pine beetle infestations and to restore healthy, more beetle resistant forests. The primary silvicultural practices that are targeted under this prevention program are those that enhance the health and vigor of existing pine stands by controlling density/stocking rates and competition levels. Four practice areas will be included: non-commercial thinning, release, prescribed burning and southern pine beetle suppression. Forest restoration efforts will focus on planting the most appropriate tree species based on the site.
Technical assistance will be provided to landowners by GFC foresters who will take applications, evaluate the site, and then determine the steps the landowner should take to expect successful results (brief management plan). The forester will then inspect the area once the practice is completed to determine if the management plan was successfully implemented.
Landowners aren’t required to have a Stewardship management plan to participate in the SPB Program but priority will be given if they have one. A brief management plan should be developed for the acreage involved with the cost share practice and the forester should note any recommendations for the affected areas for all resources.
Some general guidelines for this program are:
- Applicant must own property or have authority to carry out practice (such as Power of Attorney or a controlling interest in the ownership).
- Landowner must sign an application to officially apply for cost share and return to GFC project forester for the county of ownership.
- Program is open to private non-industrial landowners as well as lands owned by local governments (Cities, Counties, Board of Education, etc.)
- Landowner must fill out a W-9 withholding form.
- Brief Plan should be filled out by forester.
- An individual landowner can receive a maximum of $10,000 in payment(s) per federal fiscal year for prevention practices, of which no more than $2500 can be for prescribed burning. A landowner can also receive a maximum $5000 for reforestation.
- Landowner must own a minimum of 10 acres of commercial forest land.
- Practices installed before the landowner is approved for funding are not allowed.
- Practice will have a 10 year lifespan and if the trees aren't maintained, landowner will have to repay the cost share for the affected acreage.
- All practices must comply with the Recommended Best Management Practices.
- Limited Resource Landowners, properties enrolled in the Forest Stewardship Program, properties impacted by pine beetles, and properties falling within higher SPB hazard counties will receive priority points. SPB hazard will be determined by the USFS SPB Hazard Map.
Cost share program funds are provided by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service
