Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands 2027

USDA-FS

About this grant

The Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Program, administered by the USDA Forest Service, is a competitive grant program that funds collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. It is offered through a single national Notice of Funding Opportunity (USDA-FS-2026-LSR) for non-federal lands, replacing the three earlier regional NOFOs (Southern/IITF, Western, and Northeast/Midwestern). The program aims to produce measurable outcomes on priority forest landscapes, leverage public and private resources, and advance priorities identified in a State Forest Action Plan or equivalent science-based restoration strategy. Eligible proposals should reduce wildfire risk, improve fish and wildlife habitat, maintain or improve water quality and watershed function, and/or mitigate invasive plants, insects, and disease. Projects must take place on rural non-industrial private forest land and/or rural state or local government forest land. For this program, 'rural' means all areas outside Census places with more than 50,000 people. Applicants are directed to the LSR Project Planning Tool to confirm eligibility of a proposed location. Awards are expected to total about $11.34 million across an estimated 30 awards. Each project receives a minimum of $100,000, or $50,000 for the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The maximum is $300,000 for single-state projects and $600,000 for multi-state projects. Recipients must match the federal funds 1:1 with non-federal sources. Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations may apply under this NOFO or a separate national NOFO (USDA-FS-2026-LSR-TRIBAL), but cannot receive more than one award for the same scope of work. Applications due in grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on January 26, 2027. By December 17, 2026, non-Tribal applicants must submit their project narrative and budget to the relevant State Forester(s) for sponsorship consideration.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, non-501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. All applicants except federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations require sponsorship from the relevant State Forester(s). Each State Forester may sponsor or participate in up to 10 applications, including up to 5 single-state and up to 5 multi-state applications. Federally recognized Tribes are limited to 2 applications under this NOFO. Projects must be on rural non-industrial private forest land and/or rural state or local government forest land, and the proposed location must fall within the program's rural definition.

How it's scored

The source page does not describe scoring criteria, weightings, or panel composition. Evaluation details are said to be in the NOFO document, which is posted under the Related Documents and Package tabs.

Key requirements

• ✓Projects must be on rural non-industrial private forest land or rural state/local government forest land, confirmed via the LSR Project Planning Tool
• ✓Recipients must match federal funds 1:1 with non-federal sources; awards range from $100,000 to $300,000 (single-state) or up to $600,000 (multi-state)
• ✓Non-Tribal applicants must submit project narrative and budget to the relevant State by December 17, 2026; full applications are due via grants.gov by January 26, 2027

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does USDA-FS offer?

Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands offers $100K – $600K.

When is the Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands deadline?

Applications close 27 Jan 2027 04:59.

Who can apply for Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Non-Federal Lands?

Eligibility covers organisations in US; local-authority, nonprofit, consortium, indigenous-community, university. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Forestry funding supports afforestation, reforestation, sustainable forest management and avoided deforestation. Money flows from climate finance, nature programmes, results-based payments and corporate buyers of forest carbon. Calls typically require land tenure clarity, community engagement and a credible plan to monitor tree survival over time.