Even though we're all in the midst of worrying about Covid-19, landowners will soon have to start dealing with this season’s upcoming spruce bark beetle outbreaks.
In an effort to share the burden, the state’s Division of Forestry has a cost-sharing program through the Western Bark Beetle Initiative with funding from the U.S. Forest Service.
The funding can be used for bark beetle prevention, suppression or restoration projects statewide.
The funding is available at two levels: One for large non-federal landowners who own 500 or more acres, such as Alaska Native Corporations, tribal entities, and local or state governments; and another for individual private landowners.
A landowner must own at least five acres to be eligible for the funding, and the money cannot be used exclusively for the removal of hazard trees.
Project proposals are currently being accepted through April 16 for large acreage landowners. It is a competitive grant process.
The application period for individual private landowners begins April 1. Funding for eligible projects will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.