Maine Invasive Plant Control Grant Program Applications Now Open

April 23, 2021

For more information contact: Jim Britt at: Jim.Britt@maine.gov

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's (DACF) Maine Forest Service (MFS) is providing up to $85,000 through 2023 for local governments, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private family woodland owners interested in obtaining Invasive Plant Control Practice Plans (IPCPP) for their woods. This new invasive plant management program is administered by the MFS and the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP).

Funded by a Landscape Scale Restoration Program grant from the USDA Forest Service, financial incentives for IPCPPs are available to public and private woodland owners with ten to one thousand wooded acres in Maine. The program will reimburse up to 50% of the cost based on the number of acres. An average small woodlot may receive up to $400 maximum incentive; larger lots will have larger maximum incentive amounts. The IPCPP provides woodland owners with maps and treatment recommendations for invasive plants.

The program's goal is to address invasive plants that choke out native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in the eligible woodlands. A corps of natural resource professionals trained through the program's Invasive Plant Academy will be qualified to develop the IPCPPs. A list of trained plan preparers will be available on the MFS Invasive Plant Management Program web page.

"IPCPPs are an important tool for managing and controlling invasive plants across our state, and a great resource for landowners," said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal.

"We are pleased to offer this assistance to communities, land trusts and other non-profit groups, and smaller-acreage private woodland owners," said Maine Forest Service Director Patty Cormier.

"We're excited for the opportunity to work with licensed foresters and other natural resource professionals to develop IPCPPs for Maine's woodland owners," added MNAP Invasive Plant Biologist Nancy Olmstead.

"After years of seeing these invasive plants becoming worse and worse, it's great to finally have some resources to tackle the problem on the ground," noted MFS Landowner Outreach Forester Andy Shultz.

Landowners with approved IPCPPs will also be eligible to apply for the next phase of the program to receive free invasive plant treatment conducted by a contractor hired by the Maine Forest Service.

  • Visit the MFS website for the 2021 IPCPP application. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., May 31, 2021.
  • Access a list of natural resource professionals provisionally eligible to develop IPCPPs.
  • Visit the MFS website to learn more about the new IPCPP by or call MFS Landowner Outreach Forester Andy Shultz at (207) 287-4980.