§ 625.1 - Purpose and scope.

§ 625.1 Purpose and scope.

(a) 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.

(b) The objectives of HFRP are to:

(1) Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA);

(2) Improve plant and animal biodiversity; and

(3) Conserve forest land that provides habitat for species listed under section 4 of ESA, a candidate for such listing, State-listed species or species of greatest conservation need as identified in a State wildlife action plan, or species identified by the Chief for special consideration for funding; and

(4) Enhance carbon sequestration.

(c) The regulations in this part set forth the policies, procedures, and requirements for the HFRP as administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for program implementation and processing applications for enrollment.

(d) The Chief may implement HFRP in any of the 50 States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(e) Pursuant to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) authorized by Subtitle I of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198):

(1) Eligible Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) projects may be selected for funding under RCPP; and

(2) The Chief may modify or waive a nonstatutory discretionary provision or operational procedure of this part if the Chief determines the waiver of such provision or procedure is necessary to further HFRP purposes.

[75 FR 6546, Feb. 10, 2010, as amended at 79 FR 44640, Aug. 1, 2014; 84 FR 19702, May 6, 2019]