The Forest and Water Fund Cost-Share Program supports landowners through four conservation practices designed to strengthen forest health, protect water resources, and support long-term stewardship. Below, you’ll find an overview of each practice, including what it involves, why it matters, and how it can benefit your land.
High Carbon Reserves
High Carbon Reserves support landowners who want to keep their forests healthy, intact, and long-term carbon stores. This practice provides cost-share assistance to help landowners with conservation easements develop and implement a management plan focused on maintaining high carbon stocks. Protected and well-managed forests play a critical role in storing carbon, protecting water quality, supporting wildlife habitat, and maintaining working forest landscapes. High Carbon Reserves help ensure these forests remain forests — now and into the future. How This Practice Helps Your Land
Keeps forestland intact and protected from conversion
Supports long-term forest health and stability
Maintains and enhances the forest’s ability to store carbon
Aligns conservation goals with active, intentional management
Additional Requirements
A conservation easement
A management plan that identifies conservation areas (Gap Status 1–4)
A signed statement of intent to maintain or increase forest carbon stocks
What’s Included Cost share can be used to help landowners with this practice.
Develop or update a forest management plan that identifies and protects high-carbon forest areas
Implement practices that maintain or increase carbon storage over time
Practice Goals
Keep forests as forests
Maintain high carbon stocks across Michigan’s working forest landscapes
Cost-Share Available Cost-share assistance is available for High Carbon Reserves, with payments based on acreage and project scope. Funding levels may vary depending on project details. Amounts available range from $200-$250/acre. Awards typically range from $2,500 to $25,000. Our team can help you understand which rate may apply to your land and walk through the application and planning process.
Prescribed Fire
Prescribed Fire is a carefully planned and professionally managed tool used to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and restore fire-dependent ecosystems. When used under the right conditions, prescribed fire can reduce excess fuel on the forest floor while protecting soil, water, and long-term carbon storage. This practice supports landowners in using fire safely and responsibly as part of an overall forest management strategy. How This Practice Helps Your Land
Reduces the risk of severe or uncontrolled wildfires
Protects long-term carbon stocks by preventing catastrophic fire loss
Restores native and fire-adapted ecosystems
Improves forest structure and resilience
What’s Included Cost-share support may be used to:
Plan and implement prescribed fire as a forest management tool
Work with trained professionals to safely carry out burns
Additional Requirements To participate in the Prescribed Fire practice, landowners must have:
A qualified burn boss overseeing the burn
An approved burn plan
A valid burn permit
Practice Goals
Reduce wildfire risk
Restore and maintain healthy, resilient forest ecosystems
If you’re interested in prescribed fire but are unsure whether it’s appropriate for your property, assistance is available to help you explore this option and connect with qualified professionals. Cost Share Available: Cost-share assistance is available for Prescribed Fire, with funding based on project scope and site conditions. The cost-share rate typically ranges from 80% to 100% of eligible costs, depending on project details.
Ecological Tree Planting
Ecological Tree Planting supports landowners in restoring and strengthening forests in riparian areas and other ecologically important landscapes. By planting the right trees in the right places, this practice helps improve forest resilience, increase species diversity, and protect nearby water resources. These plantings are designed to do more than add trees — they help stabilize soils, filter runoff, support wildlife habitat, and contribute to long-term carbon storage. How This Practice Helps Your Land
Improves forest resilience and species diversity
Protects water quality by stabilizing soils and reducing runoff
Restores riparian areas, savannas, and barrens
Sequesters carbon through long-term forest growth
Supports healthy, functioning ecosystems
What’s Included Cost-share support may be used to:
Develop a tree planting plan tailored to your site and goals
Install trees in riparian zones and other priority ecosystems
Support restoration projects in savannas, barrens, and similar landscapes
Priority is given to projects located:
Within 15 priority watersheds
In riparian areas within 300 feet of surface water
Additional Requirements To participate in the Ecological Tree Planting practice, landowners must have an approved tree planting plan. Practice Goals
Sequester carbon
Protect water quality
Restore forests and natural ecosystems
Cost-Share Available: Cost-share assistance is available for Ecological Tree Planting, with funding based on project type, location, and eligibility. The cost-share rate typically ranges from 80% to 100% of eligible costs, depending on project details.
Climate Resilience Treatments
Climate Resilience Treatments support landowners in actively managing their forests to remain healthy, productive, and resilient in the face of changing conditions. These practices focus on maintaining ecological function today while increasing the forest’s capacity to store carbon in the future. By addressing forest stressors and improving overall stand health, climate resilience treatments help forests better withstand pests, disease, extreme weather, and long-term climate impacts. How This Practice Helps Your Land
Maintains healthy, functioning forest ecosystems
Strengthens forests against pests, disease, and climate stress
Supports long-term productivity and resilience
Increases the forest’s ability to store carbon over time
What’s IncludedCost-share support may be used to:
Implement forest management practices that improve resilience and stand health
Carry out treatments identified by a professional forester
Additional RequirementsTo participate in Climate Resilience Treatments, landowners must have:
An approved forest management plan
Treatments marked by a forester
Practice Goals
Maintain ecological functions
Increase future carbon stocks
Cost-Share AvailableCost-share assistance is available for Climate Resilience Treatments, with funding based on project scope and site conditions. The cost-share rate typically ranges from 80% to 100% of eligible costs, depending on project eligibility and details.
