Purpose
The Texas Resilient Forests Incentive Program (TReFIP) provides financial assistance to small-acreage forest landowners in East Texas who are willing to implement adaptive, beyond-business-as-usual silvicultural practices. These practices, guided by the best available science, help improve long-term forest resilience and productivity, support sustainable forestry, and enhance ecosystem services such as clean water, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
Practices
Landowners may apply for any combination of practices within a single suite.
Suite 1: Forest stand establishment for fiber production
Site specific, adaptive silvicultural treatments that ensure newly planted forest trees grow and thrive beyond the establishment phase, with a primary goal of high-value fiber production.
Suite 2: Forest stand improvement
Adaptive silvicultural practices that enhance forest composition and structure to increase tree vigor, growth, diversity, and wildlife habitat.
Suite 3: Forest edge enhancement
Practices that improve transitional zones between forests and adjacent habitats – such as roads, rights-of-way, and fields – by promoting native grasses and forbs beneficial to wildlife and pollinators.
Suite 4: Edge of field & agroforestry
The intentional integration of trees into agricultural and livestock systems to improve productivity, soil health, environmental services, and economic resilience
Suite 5: Forest stand establishment for restoration & diversity
Treatments to establish forests where the primary goal is ecological restoration – improving habitat diversity and ecosystem stability rather than fiber production.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are non-industrial private forest landowners whose property is located within an eligible county, excluding areas identified as high-population centers (see map). Each legal property owner shall be limited to one active contract at any given time, without regard to the number of ownership interests, co-owners, or jointly held properties.
Application
To apply, work with an approved TReFIP project manager – either a Texas A&M Forest Service district forester or a trained Northeast Texas Conservation Delivery Network professional.
Step 1: Schedule a site visit with your Texas A&M Forest Service district forester.
Step 2: During the site visit, complete the TReFIP Data Collection Form with your district forester.
Step 3: Follow up with your district forester to confirm your application has been successfully submitted. You’ll receive a PDF copy of your submitted application by email.
Applications may be submitted at any time, but are reviewed in January and July. Notification of funding decision will be sent out in February and August.
Funding rules
- Funding is limited to $30,000 per individual or a 100-acre maximum treatment area per open contract.
- Cost-share assistance is based on a payment schedule, with rates typically covering about 80% of the average cost for approved practices.
- Payments are issued after all the work has been completed and approved by the Project Manager.
- Landowners must maintain program benefits for at least five years following completion.
- Duplicate funding for the same practice on the same acre through other cost-share programs is not allowed.
- Participants must allow Texas A&M Forest Service access to the property before, during and after the project implementation.
About
The Texas Resilient Forests Incentive Program helps forest landowners apply adaptive, science-based silviculture to achieve both economic and ecological goals. TReFIP promotes practices that:
- Maintain stand vigor: Keep forests healthy and productive for longer periods before re-entry.
- Enhance product value: Increase higher-value outputs while reducing low-value wood production.
- Reduce carbon costs: Apply practices that minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
- Integrate practices: Combine treatments for multiple benefits.
- Protect soils: Reduce disturbance and preserve long-term site productivity.
- Encourage native groundcovers: Promote desirable native understory plants that benefit wildlife and soil health.
- Reduce risks: Decrease susceptibility to pests, disease, and natural disturbances.
- Sustain working forests: Maintain productive, resilient, and economically viable forests for future generations.