The Georgia Forestry Commission is now accepting applications for two programs that provide financial incentives to help landowners manage their forestland. The purpose of the Southern Pine Beetle Cost Share Program (SPB) is to help landowners implement forestry practices that will improve or restore forest health and tree vigor to prevent or minimize the impacts of southern pine beetle infestations. This year, tree planting assistance ($100/acre) is available, and four prevention practices are eligible for the SPB 2022 funding year: non-commercial thinning ($70/acre), herbicide release ($40/acre), prescribed burning ($5/acre), and southern pine beetle suppression.
The other opportunity available is the Invasive Plant Control Cost Share Program (IPCP). The purpose of IPCP is to promote healthy forests by eliminating nonnative, invasive plants. The program reimburses forest landowners $60 an acre to chemically treat exotic privet, Japanese climbing fern, Chinese tallowtree, chinaberry, and callery pear.
- Additional information for both programs can be found on the cost-share webpage or by contacting your local GFC forester.