June 1, 2021
Applications are now open for the 2021 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program for non-industrial, private forest landowners through June 18, 2021. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, including Escambia and Santa Rosa.
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the U.S. Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who have overstocked pine stands and need to conduct a first thinning. In addition, it offers partial cost reimbursement for activities that can mitigate SPB activity, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.