Landowner Assistance Programs

There are many landowner assistance programs available in Hawai'i for landowners willing to protect their forest, wildlife & watershed resources. Below is a summary of a few key programs offered through the Hawaii Division of Forestry & Wildlife.
Detailed Table of Assistance Programs

Forest Stewardship provides technical and financial assistance to owners of nonindustrial private forest land. The purpose of this program is to assist non-industrial private forest landowners to more actively manage their forest and related resources, and to increase the economic and environmental benefits of these lands. (Cost-Share is 50/50; assistance averages >$10,000/year for 10 yrs). Contact Sheri Mann: (808) 587-4172

Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) Provides educational, technical, and financial assistance to help private forest landowners implement their sustainable forestry management objectives. Also funds educational projects, which are not restricted to landowners, as are Stewardship projects. Minor cost-share funding is available (Cost-share 75/25; <$10,000 per year). Contact Sheri Mann: (808) 587-4172

Forest Legacy Protects private forestlands from being converted to non-forest uses. This program provides willing private landowners the opportunity to sell fee simple property, or conservation easement use-rights on their land to the State of Hawai'i for the purpose of preserving or restoring uniquely forested areas. (Cost-Share 75/25) Contact Sheri Mann: (808) 587-4172

Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) provides funding and technical assistance to enhance, protect, or restore habitats that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands. We are not currently accepting applications for LIP funds. However, applicants are encouraged to prepare proposals in the event that funds become available. Consult with local Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists in order to develop proposals that support regional plans and conservation efforts.Contact DOFAW: (808) 587-0166

Safe Harbor Agreements encourages proactive natural resource management to benefit endangered and threatened species. Provides regulatory assurances that future property-use restrictions will not be imposed if those efforts attract endangered or threatened species to their enrolled property or result in increased numbers or distributions of listed species already present. Contact DOFAW: (808) 587-0166

Watershed Partnership Program provides state funds to voluntary alliances of public and private landowners committed to the common value of protecting large areas of forested watersheds for water recharge and other values. Funds benefit co-operative projects that protect land for watershed conservation. Contact Randy Kennedy: (808) 587-0054

Natural Area Partnership Program provides state funds for the management of private lands that are dedicated to conservation. This program can support a full range of management activities to protect, restore or enhance significant native resources or geological features. The program can also help provide funding for the development of long-range management plans. Contact Randy Kennedy (808) 587-0054

Forest Stewardship

Forest Legacy

Landowner Incentive Program

Safe Harbor Agreements

Watershed Partnership Program

Division of Forestry & Wildlife

Department of Land & Natural Resources

State of Hawaii