# Firewise Defensible Space cost-share

> Cost-share from Nebraska Forest Service (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) (University / extension) for NE, United States.

Official page: https://nfs.unl.edu/financial-assistance-and-grants/
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/ne-nfs-firewise-defensible-space-cost-share · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** Reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the cost of removing flammable trees and shrubs around homes or buildings on forest land

The Nebraska Forest Service reimburses up to 75 percent of the cost of removing flammable trees and shrubs around homes or buildings to create defensible space. Cost-share is reimbursed to the applicant after a project's successful completion. The same page lists regional programs for forest fuels treatment (up to 75 percent, Pine Ridge, Niobrara Valley, Loess Canyons and northeast Nebraska near the Missouri River) and forest restoration on burned land in the Pine Ridge or Niobrara Valley (up to 75 percent of removal, erosion control, planting, seeding, weed and animal damage control and fencing), plus mini-grants of up to ten trees for fall planting projects by groups with an in-kind match.

## Who qualifies

Any state or private forest landowner in Nebraska. The regional fuels and restoration programs are limited to the forest regions named above.

## How to apply

Contact Steven Jara, 402-472-6692, sjara2@unl.edu, for Firewise defensible space; regional staff contacts for the other programs are listed on the page. Staff can help assess projects and paperwork at no cost. No deadline is stated. General: 402-472-2944, trees@unl.edu.

**For:** Landowners, Homeowners, Farmers

> Note: The page does not state funding availability, per-acre caps or deadlines for most programs; confirm current funding with the Nebraska Forest Service before starting work.