Local Conservation district office. Financial assistance for tree planting, site preparation, and competition control measures on open land is available at a 75 percent reimbursement rate. Private non-industrial landowners with at least 10 acres of open land are eligible, with a maximum of 250 acres per landowner accepted annually. Funding is provided by Alabama Power Company, whose objective is long-term carbon storage in wood products. All accrued carbon storage benefits for the life of the trees go to Alabama Power and landowners must agree to maintain the planting for 30 years.
Applications are on a first come, first serve basis.
Cost-share assistance is provided at a flat rate and covers the cost of trees, planting, prescribed burning, subsoiling, mowing, and chemical spraying. Assistance is limited to 50 acres per year per landowner. The GFC provides plans for planting and requires landowners to maintain the trees for at least 10 years. Georgia Power retains all accrued carbon storage benefits for the life of the planting. Sign-ups are held in August.