Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) 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 VDOF 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 activities to protect water quality. By “sharing the costs”, landowners may be able to undertake projects they could not afford to do on their own.
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.
Read more about the James River Buffer Program.
Mountains to Bay Buffer Program
Growing forests for clean water is the goal of the Mountains to Bay Buffer Program. Through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Mountains to Bay Buffer Program works with landowners across the Shenandoah Valley to restore or create forest buffers to improve the quality of our local waterways.
Read more about the Mountains to Bay Buffer Program.
Get started by contacting your local forester.
A variety of financial assistance programs are available through VDOF and partner agencies for forest management activities to help protect water quality.
Explore All Financial Assistance Programs
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | document-category_hfilter | document-tags_hfilter | Media_hfilter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cost-Share/AMP Project Amendment | 3.11 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-health forest-management water-quality | cost-share-programs eabt-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-program | form | |
| Forestry Cost-Share or Grant Program Certification of Work Completed | 3.09 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-health forest-management water-quality | cost-share-programs grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program | form | |
 | 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. | Document | View | financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-management water-quality | james-river-buffer-program | document | |
 | Logger Pine Thinning Cost-Share Program – First Commercial Pine Thinning | FT0028 | Forestry topic information sheet provides an overview of the Logger Pine Thinning Cost-Share Program offering financial assistance for first commercial pine thinning. | Publication | View | financial-assistance-water-quality water-quality | cost-share-programs forestry-topics lpfct-program thinning timber-harvesting | publication |
 | Mountains to Bay Buffer Program – Growing Forests for Clean Water | Information sheet provides an overview of this joint program (Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Virginia Department of Forestry) offering financial assistance for restoring or creating forest buffers across the Shenandoah Valley. | Document | View | financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-management water-quality | mountains-to-bay-buffer-program | document | |
| Multiple Landowners Supplement | 3.10 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-water-quality forest-health forest-management water-quality | cost-share-programs eabt-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-program | form | |
 | Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Virginia Dept. of Accounts) | W-9 | Form | View | finance financial-assistance-fire-and-emergency-response financial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-forest-management financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance-water-quality fire-and-emergency-response forest-health forest-management urban-and-community-forestry water-quality | cost-share-programs eabt-program firewise-mitigation-program grant-programs lpfct-program lpr-program pct-program rt-program vfa-program | form | |
| Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program Application | 17.02 | Form | View | financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance-water-quality urban-and-community-forestry water-quality | community-assistance community-resources grant-programs va-trees-for-clean-water-program | form | |
 | Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program Budget Worksheet | 17.04 | Form | View | financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry financial-assistance-water-quality urban-and-community-forestry water-quality | community-assistance community-resources grant-programs va-trees-for-clean-water-program | form |
Contact Us
VDOF foresters can assist you with your forestland and financial assistance options available. Contact your local VDOF forester.
For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.