Community Forest Conservation Round 4

Welcome to Round 4 of the Community Forest Conservation (CFC) Grant Program! The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for municipalities to acquire private land and establish new or extend existing community forests through use of fee title or conservation easements on areas that are at least 10 acres or more. Eligible project sites must be at least 75% forested.

This is a performance-based payments grant (payments are made upfront to grantees) for municipalities.

Approximately $1.5 million is available for Community Forest Conservation Grants. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided by the Environmental Protection Fund.

Minimum grant amount is $50,000; Maximum grant amount is $500,000

There are no Match requirements for this grant opportunity.

Eligible projects must result in an acquisition of or subject to a conservation easement over forests that are managed as community forests.

Eligible Project Locations

Eligible projects for grant funding must be located within the geographic boundaries of New York State.

• Forests are determined by both the presence of trees, and the absence of non-forest uses (fields, pasture, agriculture).
• Eligible project sites must be at least 75% forested.
• More than one property may be acquired as a part of this grant project; however, properties acquired through this grant program must be contiguous and together meet the 10 acre and 75% forested requirements.
• If desired, a conservation easement may be placed on a portion of a whole parcel as long as the conservation easement area is at least 10 acres in size. [...] All mineral rights must be included as part of the acquisition of the property.

Bidders are required to upload a map of the project area in SFS GM.

Properties with liens due to back taxes or mortgages are still eligible for acquisition through this grant program. However, all liens against a property must be satisfied before or at closing.

Projects may include acquisition of one or more buildings that are included on an otherwise eligible property for which the primary intention of the project is to establish a community forest.

Eligible Projects

• Land must be privately owned
• Must be at least ten (10) acres in size
• Must be at least 75% forested

It is anticipated that the community forest funded by this grant will be open to the public within approximately 24 months of closing.

Bids must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System. Paper bids will NOT be accepted. Late bids will not be accepted.

**Bids due 3:00 PM, Wednesday, December 16, 2026** (Recommendation—submit bids at least 3 days before deadline)

All bidders must be Prequalified and Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Applications from non-prequalified entities will be rejected.

All projects have pre-defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a four-year contract period/term (Year 1 and 2 for contracting, Year 3 and 4 for opening the community forest).

Project cost-effectiveness will account for at least 20% of an application score as identified in the evaluation criteria section of this RFA.

Bidders may submit one bid.

**Required uploads:** map of the property, copy of deed from the current landowner, current school and town/county tax bills from the landowner, written estimate of market value from NYS certified general appraiser, municipal resolution, and landowner agreement letter.