The purpose of the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basis, in restoring, enhancing and protecting forestland resources on private lands through easements, 30-year contracts and 10-year cost-share agreements.
The objectives of HRFP are to:
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Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA);
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Improve plant and animal biodiversity; and
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Enhance carbon sequestration.
The following requires Adobe Acrobat.
Healthy Forests Reserve Program News Release (PDF; 37 KB)
HFRP in South Carolina-Longleaf Pine Habitat Factsheet (PDF; 814 KB)
Eligible lands must be part of the historic longleaf ecosystem located in all or portions of the following counties:
Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Kershaw, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Lee, Sumter, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg, Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beafort, Colleton, Dorchester, Charleston, Berkeley, Clarendon, Florence, Dillon, Marion, Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Edgefield, and Saluda.
In South Carolina, the HFRP is expected to promote a suite of species, including the following threatened and endangered species:
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker; Flatwoods salamander; Smooth Coneflower; Pondberry; Canby’s Dropwort; American Chaffseed; Pine or Gopher Snake; Painted Bunting; Florida Pine Snake; Eastern Fox Squirrel; Brown-headed Nuthatch; Mimic glass lizard; American Kestrel; Gopher Tortoise; Southern Hog-nose Snake; Pine-barrens Tree Frog; Timber Rattlesnake; Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake; Northern Bobwhite
Overview
The Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP) is a program established to provide financial assistance to private landowners to undertake projects that restore and enhance forest ecosystems to help promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species, improve biodiversity; and enhance carbon sequestration. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated authority to implement HFRP to the NRCS Chief.
Enrollment Options
1. A 10-year cost-share agreement,
2. A 30-year easement,
3. A permanent easement
Contact:
Kellee Melton
Assistant State Conservationist--Programs
803-765-5681
Additional Information
National HFRP Program Web Site
