# Forest Stewardship Program Plan Cost-Share

> Cost-share from Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation with Massachusetts Woodlands Institute (State) for MA, United States.

Official page: https://masswoodlands.org/programs/forest-stewardship
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/ma-forest-stewardship-program-plan-cost-share · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** Fixed reimbursement of $1,140 for a new 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan on 10 to 36 acres, plus $16 per acre above 36

The Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program pays most of the cost of having a licensed consulting forester write a 10-year stewardship plan covering timber, water, wildlife habitat, climate resilience and recreation. DCR approves applications and plans; the Massachusetts Woodlands Institute issues the reimbursement. Add-on payments are available for Foresters for the Birds and Climate Forestry plan components.

## Who qualifies

Massachusetts landowners with 10 or more acres of woodland and no existing stewardship plan; owners already in Chapter 61, 61A or 61B without a forest management plan; and municipal forest parcels of 25 acres or more. Owners in primary processing of raw wood products are excluded. Owners with under 10 acres are told to contact DCR.

## How to apply

Submit the Forest Stewardship Plan Application and an IRS W-9 by mail or email to the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program in Clinton, MA. After DCR approval, hire a licensed consulting forester to write the plan and submit it to DCR; reimbursement follows plan approval. Funds are first-come, first-served each fiscal year with a waiting list once exhausted. Contact Michael Downey at DCR, 413-212-3039.

**When:** Rolling; funds allocated each state fiscal year (July to June)

**For:** Landowners, Farmers, Municipalities

> Note: Rates shown are the FY2026 schedule; larger parcels (500+ acres) are reimbursed on an approved estimate up to $14,622 or $19,622. Source is the program's administering partner site because mass.gov pages could not be fetched at research time.