The Southern New England Heritage Forest (SNEHF)

Is a 1.49 million-acre unfragmented forest corridor stretching along the Connecticut and Rhode Island border to the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts. Bounded by more heavily urbanized areas, with more than one million nearby residents, the SNEHF has an astonishing 76% forest cover and offers one of the last viable wildlife corridors from southern to northern New England. The SNEHF is a green oasis and the last undeveloped region in the coastal sprawl from Boston to Washington, D.C.

Because the SNEHF is so significant, a conservation partnership was formed to bring additional funding to the region through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The Last Green Valley (TLGV), the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership (MassConn) and the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD) are pleased to offer these funding opportunities for woodland landowners.

Request for Proposals - Restoration Plans under the USDA NRCS Healthy Forests Reserve Program

The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) is seeking the services of a consultant with expertise in woodland bird surveys, bird habitat assessments and development of species-specific Restoration Plans under the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The successful consultant will prepare a Restoration Plan for approximately 58 acres of forestland located in Monson and Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The successful consultant may also be asked to prepare a Restoration Plan for approximately 36.5 acres of forestland located in Southbridge, MA, for an additional sum to be negotiated at a later date. The deadline for proposals is 5 pm on Friday, March 11, 2022. Click here for the Restoration Plan RFP.

Funding for Forest Management Plans with Bird Habitat Assessments

Are you interested in improving woodland habitat for important bird species and managing your woods for wildlife and people?

A professional forester will walk your property and coordinate with the Audubon society in your state to produce a high-quality forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment of your woods. The plan will contain recommendations for management measures that align with your goals for the property. The plans will meet federal and state requirements and may be used to apply for property tax reductions at the local level (where applicable).

Grant funds are available to pay for most of the forester’s costs and to completely fund the bird habitat assessments. As a landowner, you will be responsible for choosing a forester from an approved list and for paying a percentage of the total cost of the forest management plan.

This program is ideally suited for landowners who have never had a forest management plan and own more than 10 acres of woodlands. Program requirements vary by state, so to get started, contact the lead partner for your state who can help you file the correct paperwork.

The deadline for Connecticut applications is December 17, 2021. The deadline for Rhode Island applications has been extended to February 11, 2022. We recommend you begin the process early so everything is complete before the deadline.

Massachusetts is accepting applications on a rolling basis so you may apply at any time.

Contacts:

For Connecticut Projects – Bill Reid, 860-774-3300; bill@tlgv.org
Connecticut Application: Forest Management Plan - EQIP Application Package September 2021

For Massachusetts Projects – Christopher Riely, 401-225-6135; christopher@sweetbirchconsulting.com
Massachusetts Application:  Forest Management/Stewardship Plan MA EQIP Application Package October 2021

For Rhode Island Projects – Marina Capraro, 401-934-0840; mcapraro.nricd@gmail.com
Rhode Island Application  (note: deadline has been extended to February 11, 2022): Forest Management Plan - EQIP Application Package September 2021

Additional Resources: List of Towns (MA, CT, RI) in the SNEHF RCPP area

Funding for Forestry Practices

Do you already have a forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment? Are you looking to improve your woodland habitat for important bird species, and manage your woods for wildlife and people?

If so, funding is available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help you take care of your woods. Your land must be within SNEHF communities and you must have a current forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment, and be ready for implementation. Additional eligibility for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will also apply.

To find out more, contact the lead project partner for your state:

For Connecticut Projects – Bill Reid, 860-774-3300; bill@tlgv.org

For Massachusetts Projects – Christopher Riely, 401-225-6135; christopher@sweetbirchconsulting.com

For Rhode Island Projects – Marina Capraro, 401-934-0840; mcapraro.nricd@gmail.com

Additional Resources: List of Towns (MA, CT, RI) in the SNEHF RCPP area

You can also contact your local NRCS Service Center:

• • Danielson (860) 779-0557
  • Hamden (203) 287-8038
  • Norwich (860) 887-9941
  • Torrington (860) 626-8852
  • Windsor (860) 688-7725

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

This project is funded in part by a Regional Conservation Partnership Program Grant #68-1106-17-058 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS/USDA and the lead project partners are equal opportunity providers, employers, and lenders.

Supporting partners for this project include: MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Providence Water, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Hull Forest Products, Thames River Basin Partnership, New England Forestry Foundation, Eastern CT Conservation District, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, RI Division of Forest Management, RI Woodland Partnership, Harvard Forest, Yale Sustaining Family Forests Institute, Audubon Connecticut, Mass Audubon and Audubon Rhode Island.