Forest Service Hosts Advisory Panel Meeting to Review Grant Applications Submitted Under The Collaborative Forest Restoration Program - March 30 – April 3, 2015

Release Date: Mar 23, 2015

The Forest Service Southwestern Region will host a federal advisory committee meeting at the Hyatt Place Albuquerque/Uptown, 6901 Arvada Avenue, NE Albuquerque, NM  87110, (505) 872-9000. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 30 and end at approximately 4:00 PM on Friday, April 3.

The Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) Technical Advisory Panel (Panel), which is composed of members selected for their long-time familiarity with forest management issues in New Mexico, will review grant applications submitted for funding under the CFRP to determine which ones best meet the program objectives.  The Forest Service Southwestern Region received 23 grant proposals for consideration by the Panel in 2015.

The Panel will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on project funding.  Individual grant recipients may receive up to $360,000 over a four-year period. The Forest Service plans to award approximately $3 million for CFRP grants in fiscal year 2015.

The meeting is open to the public.  However, discussion is limited to panel members and staff.  The Panel will schedule times each day for public comment.   Individuals wishing to make an oral statement should submit a written statement to the Forest Service.   Grant applicants may respond to questions from the Panel for clarification on their proposals. 

For a more information about the CFRP and the Panel please visit the following website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp or contact Walter Dunn, wdunn@fs.fed.us, at 505-842-3425, or in writing at Cooperative and International Forestry, USDA-FS, 333 Broadway Blvd., SE, Albuquerque, 87102.