Cost Share Programs

Conservation Incentive Programs allow Virginia Forest Service to help landowners to receive a financial benefit for implementing conservation practices. By "sharing the costs" with government agencies, landowners can undertake projects they may not be able to afford on their own. Financial incentive payments usually run between 30% to 75% of the total project costs with some exceeding 100%. These popular "Cost-Share" programs are listed in the matrix below. If you need additional information, contact our office at 276-236-2044 or email us at vaforestservice@comcast.net.

Visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for additional information. You may click on the program links below to find more information through the VDOF and related websites.

Natural Resource Programs

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)	FSA, VDOF, DCR	Targeted Watersheds	Continuous
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Environmentally Sensitive Land	FSA	Statewide	To Be Announced
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Highly Erodible Land	FSA	Statewide	Continuous
Conservation Security Program (CSP)	NRCS	Selected Watersheds	To Be Announced
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous

Flood Protection and Clean Up

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)	FSA	Targeted	Pending
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)	NRCS	Targeted	Pending
Watershed Protection Projects PL566/534	NRCS	Targeted Watersheds	Continuous

Water Quality

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Logging Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-share Program	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Nutrient Management Equipment Tax Credit Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous
Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit Program (RFBTC)	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-Share Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Loan Program	DEQ	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority	DEQ	Statewide	Continuous
Virginia Best Management Practices (BMP) Tax Credit Program	SWCD	Statewide	Continuous

Wetlands

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous

Wildlife

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program l Information (WHIP)	NRCS	Statewide	Continuous
Partners for Fish & Wildlife (PFW)	USFWS	Statewide	Continuous

Woodlands

Program Name	Agency Sponsors	Eligible Areas	Sign Up Dates
Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP)	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Pine Bark Beetle Prevention Program (PBBPP)	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous
Reforestation of Timberlands (RT) Reforestation in the Absence of Cost-Share: Does It Pay? (English, PDF format; 564KB)	VDOF	Statewide	Continuous

NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service
FSA - Farm Service Agency
VDOF - Virginia Department of Forestry
USFWS - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
DCR - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
SWCD - Soil and Water Conservation District