Healthy Forests Reserve Program

Introduction

The purpose of the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basis, in restoring, enhancing and protecting forestland resources on private lands through easements, 30-year contracts and 10-year cost-share agreements.

The objectives of  HRFP are to:

1. Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA);

2. Improve plant and animal biodiversity; and

3. enhance carbon sequestration.

Program Documents

These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Excel
Federal Register Proposed Final Rule
Application Checklist
Management Guidelines for FFRP on Copperbelly Watersnakes & Indiana Bats
Michigan HFRP Ranking Form
Michigan HFRP Eligibility Area Map
NRCS-CPA-1200 Conservation Program Application Form
Preliminary Plan (Excel Spreadsheet)

HFRP Benefits

Restoring and protecting forests contribute to the economy, provides biodiversity of plants and animal populations, and improves environmental quality.

Landowner Protections will be made available to landowners enrolled in HFRP who agree, for a specified period to restore or improve their land for threatened or endangered species habitat. In exchange they avoid certain regulatory restrictions under the Endangered Species Act on the use of that land.

The HFRP provides financial assistance in the form of easement payments and costs-share for specific conservation action completed by the landowner.

Enrollment Options

The Program offers three enrollment options:

1. A 10-year restoration cost-share agreement; for which the landowner may receive 50 percent of the average cost of the approved conservation practices.

2. A 30-year easement, or a 30-year contract on acreage owned by Indian Tribes, for which the landowner may receive 75 percent of the easement value of the enrolled land plus 75 percent of the average cost of the approved conservation practices.

3. Permanent easements for which landowners may receive 100 percent of the easement value of the enrolled land plus 100 percent the average cost of the approved conservation practices.

Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment, land must be private land or Tribal land which will restore enhance or measureable increase the likelihood of recovery of a threatened or endangered species must improve biological diversity or increase carbon sequestration.

Contact

HFRP Coordinator
Brian Thomas
Phone:  517-324-5259
E-mail: brian.thomas@mi.usda.gov

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