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Current Landowners
Assistance for Forest Landowners
Getting Help Caring for Your Woodlands
Being a good steward of your woodland takes knowledge, time, and resources. Fortunately, there are programs that offer both technical expertise and financial assistance to help you care for your land. Whether you're planning a timber harvest, improving wildlife habitat, or managing invasive species, support is available to help you reach your goals.
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance connects you with professionals who can help you assess your woods, create a management plan, and identify next steps. In Vermont, you can tap into support from foresters, wildlife biologists, and conservation specialists who understand the unique ecology of our region.
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) County Forester Program- County Foresters provide free, on-the-ground advice and can help enroll land in Current Use or connect with cost-share programs.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife – Landowner Habitat Assistance Program provides landowner assistance on a variety of wildlife issues, from habitat assessments to identification of rare and endangered species. Private land wildlife biologists are available to come to your property conduct a habitat assessment and offer recommendations for implementing habitat improvements
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Landowner Programs
Audubon Vermont – Forest Landowner Assistance Program provides free habitat assessments for private landowners, working in partnership with consulting foresters. This program seeks to enhance forest habitat for a wide range of important song birds species. Landowners receive a site visit and a habitat report, along with management recommendations.
Forest Landowner Assistance in Vermont
Financial Assistance
Cost-share and incentive programs can help offset the costs of forest management activities—from habitat restoration to trail improvements. These programs typically require a forest management plan and guidance from a professional forester.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Programs
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers technical and financial assistance to help forest landowners improve the health, resilience, and biodiversity of their woods. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), landowners can receive cost-share funding for conservation practices like invasive species control, habitat enhancement, and forest stand improvement. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) supports landowners already practicing good stewardship by providing payments to expand or add new conservation efforts over time.
Learn more
State and Local Grants
Occasional grants for recreation access, water quality projects, etc.
Gallery of Resources
Forest Management Basics
Learn how to assess and care for your woods
Find a Forester
Work with a professional to develop a management plan
VT's Use Value Appraisal Program (aka Current Use)
Enroll your land in the VT Use Value Appraisal (UVA) Program
Managing for Wildlife & Habitat
Improve conditions for birds, deer and other wildlife
12 Steps to Climate Resilience
Discover practical steps to adapt your land to a changing climate
Legacy Planning
Learn about conservation easements and keeping land intact
Blog
This fall, we are offering two hands-on chainsaw training opportunities for women this fall. Both emphasize safety, practical skills, and confidence—but…
This summer Vermont Woodlands Association is hosting stewardship potlucks across the state as a way to meet our neighbors, build community and discuss…
Events
Join your fellow harvesters and hone your skills with presentations from Vermont FPR Rick Dyer, Dave Wilcox, and Vermont Fish and Game. And some hours brushing up on skills and knowledge, with some safety modules with VT LEAP's own director, Tim
Join your fellow harvesters and hone your skills with Managing Forest Ecosystems-Watersheds and AMP presentations from Vermont FPR Rick Dyer, Dave Wilcox, and Vermont Fish and Game. And some hours brushing up on skills and knowledge, with some safety modules with VT LEAP's own director, Tim