California Awards $19.5 Million for Multi-benefit Wildfire Resilience Projects Across the State

California Awards $19.5 Million for Multi-benefit Wildfire Resilience Projects Across the State
California state boards and conservancies are continuing to distribute funding in all reaches of the state to protect communities and promote wildfire and landscape resilience.
June 5, 2026 – Sierra Nevada Conservancy Awards $4.5 Million in Wildfire Resilience and Recreation Grants: The Sierra Nevada Conservancy approved nearly $1.5 million to new early action wildfire-resilience projects and just over $3 million projects to help boost recreation and tourism in the Sierra-Cascade.
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- In Nevada County, the city of Grass Valley was awarded $720,000 to treat approximately 240 acres of forested land in Wolf Creek, Boston Ravine, and other locations in the southernmost portion of the town.
- The Mariposa County Fire Safe Council was awarded $756,179 to reduce fuels on 192 acres in the southwest region of Mariposa County near the communities of Ahwahnee, Nipinnawasee, and Ponderosa Basin.
- $3,153,998 in funding from the Sustainable Recreation, Tourism, and Equitable Outdoor Access Directed Grant Program will help with planning and implementing of work to improve and restore trails and facilities in Butte, Kern, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Tehama, and Trinity counties.
June 2, 2026 – Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Awards $7 Million to Wildfire Resilience Projects in the LA Area: The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) Governing Board awarded over $12 million across four projects. These projects will increase wildfire resilience in some of the highest need areas within the RMC’s territory ahead of wildfire season, provide safe-healthy passage, and increase biodiversity across South Bay Cities. The projects include:
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- $3,520,000 to the National Forest Foundation for San Gabriel Mountains Wildfire Resilience Project which will implement hazardous fuel reduction on priority sites across the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
- $1,600,000 to the South Bay Council of Governments for the South Bay Biodiversity Plan and Demonstration project which will deliver actionable biodiversity recommendations for local governments and educate residents, while advancing co-benefits such as water conservation, stormwater capture, heat mitigation, and habitat restoration.
- $2,238,000 to the Catalina Island Conservancy for Pre-Fire Intervention and Nature-Based Solutions Project to reduce wildfire risk and create buffer zones on Catalina Island.
May 28, 2026 – CA Wildlife Conservation Board Approves $8 Million for a Multi-Benefit Project in Alpine County: The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded an $8 million grant to Western Rivers Conservancy and Alpine County to acquire 1,688 acres near Markleeville to increase wildfire resilience, protect wet meadows, springs, riparian habitat, mixed conifer forest and sage-steppe in the Eastern Sierra. Alpine County will manage the property for conservation, including continued grazing to help reduce fuel loads and support wildfire resilience, and year-round public access, including hiking, fishing, hunting and winter recreation.
CAL FIRE and SNC Announce Availability of Forest Health Research and Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Funding

CAL FIRE and SNC Announce Availability of Forest Health Research and Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Funding
June 5, 2026 – Sierra Nevada Conservancy Starts New Landscape and Wildfire Resilience Grant Programs: The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Board approved new guidelines for its Wildfire and Forest Resilience program and guidelines for a new Landscape Grant Program that will increase the pace and scale of forest health and community protection.
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- The 2026 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program focuses on funding high-impact forest health planning or implementation projects that deliver strong, direct benefits to communities, critical infrastructure, or unique natural resources.
- The new Landscape Grant Program is part of SNC’s Landscape Investment Strategy and funds projects and activities that are designed to address ecological and community priorities, such as forest health, wildfire resilience, and watershed protection across a large landscape. Unlike many SNC grant programs, the Landscape Grant Program, also funded through the Climate Bond, does not have an open application process. Instead, SNC will identify potential Investment Ready Landscapes and collaboratives through an internal evaluation process based on regional expertise and longstanding engagement with partners and will invite selected collaboratives to participate in the program in fall 2026.
June 11, 2026 – CAL FIRE Announces Availability of $7.5 Million for Forest Health Research Grant Funding: CAL FIRE announced the availability of $4.5 million in California Climate Investments (CCI) funding and $3 million in Proposition 4 California Climate Bond (Prop 4) funding through the Forest Health Research Grants Program. These grants are intended to support research that delivers direct benefits to landowners, resource agencies, fire management organizations, and decision-makers across the state. Proposals are due 3:00 PM PST on July 30, 2026.
California Launches First Statewide Mass Timber Coalition

California Launches First Statewide Mass Timber Coalition
June 11, 2026 – The State of California announced the formation of the state’s first California Mass Timber Coalition, a new public-private partnership designed to accelerate the adoption of mass timber construction, drive forest health and wildfire mitigation efforts, and accelerate economic development across the state’s rural and urban communities. The Coalition brings together state and federal agencies, county and local governments, research institutions, industry representatives, forest sector organizations, non-profit organizations, and community partners to support the establishment of an in-state mass timber industry, advancing manufacturing and climate-smart construction with the goal of building resilient communities and advancing California’s forest health goals and climate initiatives. The Coalition will also work to establish state policy and regulations that drive positive outcomes for both utilization and manufacturing of in-state mass timber, as well as industry development and market growth.
Task Force Science Advisory Panel Releases New Report on the Latest Research Guiding California's Wildfire Resilience Efforts

Task Force Science Advisory Panel Releases Synthesis of Latest Research Guiding California's Wildfire Resilience Efforts
June 5, 2026 – The Task Force’s Science Advisory Panel released A Science-based Synthesis to Safeguard People, Communities, and Ecosystems from Wildfire in California (Science Synthesis), which provides a strong scientific framework for the Task Force’s 5-year Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan.
The Science Advisory Panel was tasked with synthesizing topically specific, science-based, and decision-relevant research findings to guide investments and actions to protect human lives and communities and reduce risk to ecosystems and the services they provide from extreme wildfire events in California. The Panel identified seven key messages, including:
- A brief overview of California’s wildfire crisis
- Socioeconomic and public health implications of wildfires
- Land use planning and design for protecting communities
- Wildfire impacts to ecosystems and the services and values they provide
- Applications and approaches to reduce extreme wildfire risk
- Post-fire recovery, reforestation, and management interventions
- The value and role of data, modeling, remote sensing, and novel technological applications
California Continues to Lead Nation with Recognition of 1,500th Firewise Community

California Continues to Lead Nation with Recognition of 1,500th Firewise Community
May 19, 2026 – California reached another major milestone in its efforts to strengthen wildfire resilience with the designation of the Woodfords community in Alpine County as the state’s 1,500th Firewise USA® community. This achievement highlights the continued statewide progress in supporting local communities as they work to reduce wildfire risk. The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) formally recognizes Firewise communities that demonstrate a sustained commitment to preparedness and risk reduction. The Woodfords community reflects the deep history and longstanding connection that local residents and tribal communities have with the land. Today, Woodfords continues to demonstrate leadership in resilience and preparedness through its dedication to reducing wildfire risk.
The Firewise USA® recognition program, administered by NFPA®, is a voluntary initiative in which residents work together to implement long‑term wildfire mitigation practices. To earn recognition, communities complete several key steps, including establishing a local committee, conducting a Community Risk Assessment, developing a three‑year action plan, hosting public outreach activities, and submitting a formal application.
June 5 Sacramento Meeting Recap
SACRAMENTO TASK FORCE MEETING RECAP
June 5, 2026
At its June 5 meeting in Sacramento, the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force announced the release of the draft Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan (2026-2031). Building on California’s nation-leading wildfire resilience efforts, the draft plan is a statewide strategy to accelerate action to confront the state’s wildfire challenges and strengthen long-term resilience for communities and natural landscapes.
During the meeting, Task Force Director Patrick Wright previewed the draft plan, highlighting the major progress made to date, along with the unprecedented level of funding, commitment to a science-based approach, and the collaborative effort among the key agencies and land managers. Also, during the meeting the Task Force’s Science Advisory Panel released the Science Synthesis, which provides a strong science-based framework for the Action Plan. The meeting’s panels focused on how the draft plan addresses community wildfire preparedness and landscape resilience.
Welcome & Executive Remarks
Co-chairs
- Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency
- Jacque Buchanan, U.S. Forest Service
Task Force Executive Committee
- Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE
- Bobby Macaulay, CA State Association of Counties
- Don Hankins, Indigenous Stewardship Network
- Katy Landau, Cal EPA
- Abby Edwards, Governor’s Office of Land Use & Climate Innovation
- Liz Meyer-Shields, Bureau of Land Management
Director’s Report
Director’s Report
Patrick Wright, Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force
Science Advisory Panel Updates
Science Advisory Panel Updates
Steve Ostoja, USDA Climate Hub
Community Wildfire Preparedness
Moderator: Patrick Wright, Task Force
- Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE
- Yana Valachovic, UC Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Tony Andersen, CA Board of Forestry
- Joe Nordlinger, Napa Firewise
- Michael O’Connell, Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Landscape Resilience
Moderator: Patrick Wright, Task Force
- John Battles, UC Berkeley
- Brian Kittler, America Forests
- Lenya Quinn-Davidson, UC Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Jeff Heys, U.S. Forest Service
- Amanda Watson, Amador Resource Conservation District
- Brian Newman-Lindsay, Department of Conservation
Closing Remarks
Task Force Co-Chairs

