Delaware Forest Resiliency Fund

The Delaware Forest Service received $1.5 million from the U.S. Forest Service (funded through the Inflation Reduction Act) to establish the Delaware Forest Resiliency Fund, a cost-share program through which landowners can address forest resiliency through tree planting, invasive species removal, and prescribed fire.

Open to all landowners, including non-industrial private forestland owners, homeowners associations, nonprofits, municipalities, and county government. All projects must be a minimum of three acres in size, but an eligible landowner cannot own more than 10,000 forested acres in Delaware.

Most cost-share payments will be made at 90% unless otherwise outlined for the specific project area. Landowners who have owned forestland in Delaware for 10 years or less, own properties in priority areas, are limited resource producers, or are veterans honorably discharged in the prior 10 years will receive a 100% cost-share payment. Prescribed Fire and Invasive Species projects have a cap of $10,000 per landowner; Tree Planting projects have no maximum payment. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved first-come, first-served, as funding allows.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed first-come, first-served as funding allows (no fixed deadline). Before applying, applicants must complete the Delaware W-9 Online Form and register as a supplier with the State of Delaware at esupplier.erp.delaware.gov (and obtain a UEI number at SAM.gov), then submit the Delaware Forestry Resiliency Fund Landowner Application, entering their State Vendor ID. Applications for prescribed-fire and invasive-species projects must include 3 bids from qualified contractors (not required for tree-planting projects). For questions, contact Laura Upham, Forest Stewardship Coordinator, at (302) 856-2893 ext. 104 or Laura.Upham@delaware.gov.