The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), has announced $2 million is now available to Florida landowners through the Florida’s Future Forests Program. The program, in its fourth year, offers landowners cost-share opportunities to help enhance the capacity of Florida’s forests, which provide clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and thousands of essential products.
“A majority of our state’s forests are privately owned so Florida landowners are key to maintaining and conserving our forests and natural resources for future generations,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “This important program helps landowners offset the initial cost of site preparation, seedlings, and the planting of seedlings.”
“Forests are valuable natural resources and a great long-term investment for the state,” said Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan. “Trees remove carbon dioxide emissions as well as produce oxygen, contribute to clean water, and provide homes for wildlife.”
The Florida’s Future Forests Program is open to non-industrial, private landowners, local governments, and registered nonprofit organizations. Applicants may request funding for tree establishment practices on a minimum of 10 acres and up to 250 acres.
Since 2021, the Florida Legislature has appropriated approximately $14 million for this program. These funds have already been used to create 26,000 acres of healthy forests in the state. The Florida Legislature funded the program with a total of $4 million this fiscal year, an initial $2 million with an additional $2 million being released later this fiscal year to fund future site preparation and planting.