Southern Pine Beetle Cost Share Program
Forecasted
The Southern Pine Beetle Cost Share Program funds science-based forest management to help Tennessee landowners reduce beetle risks and restore healthy pine stands.
Funder: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: Quarterly sign-up periods (4 times per year; contact local Area Forester for current dates)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 per landowner per year (50% cost share on eligible practices; specific per-acre maximums apply)
Summary: Supports Tennessee landowners in proactive pine forest management to reduce southern pine beetle risks through cost sharing for restoration, reforestation, and thinning.
Key Information: Eligible only for private landowners and non-profits; not open to public lands or wood-using industries.
Description
The Southern Pine Beetle Cost Share Program, administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry, offers financial incentives to help private landowners manage pine forests and reduce susceptibility to southern pine beetle (SPB) infestations. The program is part of the Southern Pine Beetle Initiative, which aims to restore and maintain healthy pine stands across Tennessee. Funding supports activities such as site preparation, reforestation, thinning, and active suppression of SPB outbreaks. By encouraging active forest management and the restoration of native pine species, the program seeks to build more resilient and sustainable pine woodlands and mitigate the economic and ecological impacts of beetle outbreaks.
