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USDA Approves Emergency Forest Restoration Program Assistance in Maui County

KAHULUI, HI., November 27, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address wildfire and severe storm damages in Maui County. Signup for EFRP begins Nov. 27, 2023, and ends Jan. 25, 2024.

“All eligible landowners in Maui county are encouraged to apply for assistance by the deadline,” said FSA County Executive Director James Robello. “If you haven’t participated in FSA programs, contact the Maui County FSA office as soon as possible to establish customer and farm records and determine program eligibility.”

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster.

The approved EFRP practices under this authorization include:

Bottomland hardwood forest restoration;
Bottomland softwood forest restoration;
Bottomland mixed forest restoration; and
Bottomland Longleaf Pine restoration

Because EFRP funds are allocated based on the number of applications submitted to FSA and the extent of damage as determined by on-site inspections, producers in need of EFRP assistance should submit applications to FSA as soon as possible.

After EFRP applications are received, local FSA county committees determine land eligibility and approve applications using on-site inspections to assess the type and extent of damage. Eligible forest restoration practices include debris removal, such as down or damaged trees, to establish a new stand or provide natural regeneration; site preparation, planting materials and labor to replant forest land; restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel breaks or erosion control structures; fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife damage; and wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings and wildlife habitat.

To meet EFRP eligibility requirements, NIPF land must have existing tree cover or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster event occurred and be sustainable for growing trees. The land must also be owned by a nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation or other private legal entity that has definitive decision-making authority over the land. The natural disaster event must have resulted in damage that, if untreated, would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land and materially affect future use of the land.

More Information

For more information on ECP, EFRP and other disaster recovery assistance, please contact the Maui County FSA office at 808-871-5500 ext. 2 or visit the disaster protection and recovery page on farmers.gov.