Forestry Division To Assist Landowners

LABELLE, FL. -- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, Division of
Forestry announces that it will hold a sign-up for enrollment in the
Forest Land Recovery Program (FLRP) from July 22 through October 21.
This program, authorized under the 2005 Military Construction
Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane Supplemental Appropriations Act,
is available to non-industrial private forest landowners on a 75-25 cost
share basis. Eligible practices include, but are not limited to: site
preparation, tree planting, and debris removal activities. Landowners
who own at least 10 acres but no more that 5,000 acres of land in
Florida and who have a practice plan will be eligible to receive funding
assistance under FLRP. A maximum of $25,000 will be available for each
qualifying landowner as reimbursement for incurred expenses for approved
practices. A total of $6,000,000.00 will be available to forest
landowners statewide. Almost half of the state's 14 million acres of
forestland is owned by private non-industrial forest landowners. After
the hurricane season of 2004, many of these landowners are in need of
financial assistance to help restore their forestlands. Landowners can
obtain application forms from their local Division of Forestry office
and from other cooperating agencies. The Division of Forestry's
foresters will provide technical assistance to landowners and will be
the local contact person for participating landowners. For more
information in Lee, Collier, and Hendry counties contact Senior Forester
Michael Weston at (239) 690-3500 ext. 118, or contact Randy Hill,
Conservation Programs Manager, in Tallahassee at (850) 414-9907.