Wildfires have burned millions of acres across California. In response, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with partners to find innovative ways to accelerate projects that reduce the risk of large-scale, high-severity wildfires which devastate communities, infrastructure and wildlife through the California Forest Conservation Plan.

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The California Forest Conservation Plan

To support our partners' efforts to increase the pace and scale of forest fuels reduction projects across the state, the Fish and Wildlife Service is developing the California Forest Conservation Plan. This Plan will accelerate forest fuels reduction project compliance required under the Endangered Species Act, balance project activities with the needs of wildlife, and apply consistent wildlife conservation measures across public and private lands.

trees blackened by wildfire stand like toothpicks on a dirt ridge.
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Tahoe National Forest after the 2022 Mosquito Fire, which at the time, was the largest fire in California history. USFWS photo

The California Forest Conservation Plan is a General Conservation Plan accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement for forest fuels reduction activities. The wildfire crisis in California is outpacing efforts to protect communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources and the Plan will help approvals move more quickly. We are committed to working with public and private partners to create healthier, more resilient forests across California.

Who can participate in the Plan?

Public and private land managers will be able to participate in the plan to help streamline approvals and permitting for projects that reduce wildfire risk, create resilient forests and protect communities. 

Map of California Forest Conservation Plan Regional Areas. Map by USFWS
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How large is the Plan?

The Plan will be rolled out across the state using a phased approach. This first Plan Area will cover 19,543,852 acres of public and private forested lands in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties. The Plan Area covers the impacts of fuels reduction activities on 21 covered species. 

When will I be able to sign on to the Plan?

We aim to publish a draft California Forest Conservation Plan with this first Plan Area in the Federal Register in late summer 2026. We will announce when the Plan is final and ready for implementation. Participation in the Plan will be voluntary. 

Public Participation

A virtual briefing on the Plan was held on October 29, 2024. The virtual briefing provided an overview of the Plan, described how it will work, and outlined who can participate and when. The presentation was recorded and can be accessed via the link below (it will take you to the Service's YouTube channel). You can also download the transcript of the presentation, as well as the PowerPoint slides.

Our Library

A large adult black bear plodding across a grassy field with vegetation in its mouth
Four Elements of a Healthy Forest
When you close your eyes and think of a healthy forest, you may picture one that’s thick with trees. But a healthy forest is complex, just like the plant and animal species that live there.
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For Parents and Educators
a gray and olive colored fat toad with bumpy skin sits on pine needles in a burned forest
How Does Wildfire Impact Wildlife and Forests?
When wildfires erupt, animals do their best to move out of the direct path of the flames while staying close to home if they can find safe refuge. But when a high-severity fire burns across a large landscape, it moves fast and climbs through the tree canopy. Wildlife has a more challenging time...
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Wildlife Wonders
A well-managed forest with tall pine trees and no shrubs or grass on the ground.
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California Forest Conservation Plan Virtual Briefing Transcript

This is a transcript for the recorded, virtual briefing of the California Forest Conservation Plan on October 29, 2024. 

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CFCP Virtual Briefing: PowerPoint Slides

This is the PowerPoint presentation for the California Forest Conservation Plan's Virtual Briefing that was hosted on October 29. The transcript for the presentation is available on the webpage as a separate file. 

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