Financial Assistance Programs for Forest Management Activities

 Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) encourages landowners to consult a forester to discuss goals and objectives for their land. No matter what the landowner’s objectives are, if there are forest management activities needed to meet those objectives, the implementation can be daunting and come with a cost. Part of DOF services is to assist landowners with identifying financial assistance programs that the landowner may be eligible for.

A variety of financial assistance and incentive programs are often available to assist Virginia landowners with the financial costs associated with forest management and conservation efforts. By “sharing the costs”, landowners may be able to undertake projects they could not afford to do on their own.


Reforestation of Timberlands Program

Financial assistance is available for growing pines through the Virginia Reforestation of Timberlands (RT) Program, managed by the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Learn more about the Reforestation of Timberlands Program.


James River Buffer Program

Growing forests for clean water is the goal of the James River Buffer Program. Through the James River Buffer Program, the James River Association and the Virginia Department of Forestry are working working with landowners across the Middle James Watershed on restoring or creating forest buffers to improve the quality of our local waterways.

Learn more about the James River Buffer Program.


A variety of financial assistance programs are available through DOF and partner agencies for forest management activities.

Explore All Financial Assistance Programs


Get help finding the right financial assistance program to meet your needs.

Find a DOF Forester


Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent Typehf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:document-tagshf:tax:Media
Cost-Share/AMP Project Amendment
Cost-Share/AMP Project Amendment3.11Viewfinance financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-management forest-health forest-management water-qualitycost-share-programs eabt-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-programform
Environmental Quality Incentives Cost-Share Program - Project Success Stories
Environmental Quality Incentives Cost-Share Program – Project Success StoriesFT0009

Forestry topic information sheet provides “success stories” portraying real-life experiences of Virginia forest landowners who have used Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) cost-share assistance to accomplish sustainable forest management activities. The EQIP program can improve a forest landowner’s “return on investment” by covering a percent of the costs associated with sustainably managing forest stands – planting trees, controlling invasive plant species and improving wildlife habitat. Printed copies available.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-managementcost-share-programs environmental-quality-incentives-program forestry-topics tree-planting wildlife-habitatpublication
Forest Sustainability Fund Awards FY2023
Forest Sustainability Fund Awards FY2023

This document presents the forgone revenue from forest land use reported by applying localities and the Forest Sustainability Fund amounts awarded for fiscal year 2023.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-managementforest-sustainability-funddocument
Forestry Cost-Share or Grant Program Certification of Work Completed
Forestry Cost-Share or Grant Program Certification of Work Completed3.09Viewfinance financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-forest-health forest-health forest-management water-qualitycost-share-programs grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-programform
James River Buffer Program - Growing Forests for Clean Water
James River Buffer Program – Growing Forests for Clean Water

Information sheet provides an overview of this joint program (James River Association and Virginia Department of Forestry) offering financial assistance for creating forest buffers across the Middle James Watershed.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-management water-qualityjames-river-buffer-programdocument
James River Buffer Program Agreement
James River Buffer Program Agreement7.26Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-managementcost-share-programs grant-programs james-river-buffer-programform
Multiple Landowners Supplement
Multiple Landowners Supplement3.10Viewfinance financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-management forest-health forest-management water-qualitycost-share-programs eabt-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-programform
National Timber Tax Website
National Timber Tax Website

The National Timber Tax Website was developed to be used by timberland owners, as well as a reference for accountants, attorneys, consulting foresters and other professionals who work with timberland owners regarding the tax treatment of timber related activities.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-managementforest-planning land-planning landowner-assistance landowner-resources timber-harvesting timber-salesresource
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts)
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts)W-9Viewfinance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-water-quality financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management fire-and-emergency-response forest-health forest-management urban-and-community-forestry water-qualitycost-share-programs eabt-program firewise-mitigation-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-program va-trees-for-clean-water-program vfa-programform
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Contract Signing
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Contract Signing

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with contract signing.

Viewfinance financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-management urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-response forest-managementforest-sustainability-fund system-access-portal-forestry-grants va-trees-for-clean-water-program vfa-programdocument
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide - Requesting a Contract Amendment
System Access Portal for Forestry Grants User Guide – Requesting a Contract Amendment

System Access Portal User Guide for application and administration of forestry grants. This guide assists with requesting a contract amendment.

Viewfinance financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response forest-management urban-and-community-forestry fire-and-emergency-responseforest-sustainability-fund system-access-portal-forestry-grants va-trees-for-clean-water-program vfa-programdocument
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2021 Tax Year
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2021 Tax YearFS-1188

This USDA Forest Service publication provides tax tips intended to assist forest landowners and their tax advisors in preparing 2021 Federal income tax returns. It can also help plan for future years. This material is for information and educational use only and is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor concerning your particular tax situation.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-management forestland-conservationestate-planning forest-planning land-planning tax-planningpublication

Contact Us

DOF foresters can assist you with your forestland and financial assistance options available, contact your local DOF forester.

For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.