County Forest Land Acquisition Grants
County Forest Land Acquisition Grants support Wisconsin counties’ land purchases for the County Forest Program to sustain forest products, outdoor recreation, wildlife, and watershed protection.
Funder: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications accepted year-round under the county’s memorandum of agreement)
Funding Amounts: Up to 50% of eligible costs; county match of at least 50% required
Summary: Supports Wisconsin counties’ fee-simple land purchases for entry into and management under the County Forest Program.
Key Information: Only counties with land already enrolled in the County Forest Program and a DNR acquisition memorandum of agreement qualify.
Description
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers County Forest Land Acquisition Grants through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The program supports fee-simple purchases of land eligible for entry into Wisconsin’s County Forest Program. It allows participating counties to compete for Stewardship acquisition funding under authority established by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2007.
Acquired land must support county forest purposes, including forest products, outdoor recreation, wildlife, watershed protection, and stabilization of stream flow. A joint panel of DNR Forestry staff and the Wisconsin County Forests Association evaluates applications. Selection considers county forest purposes, regional or statewide significance, development threats, acquisition boundaries, and priorities documented in conservation plans and each county’s memorandum of agreement with DNR.
