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Forest CORE Fund (Mountain Valley Pipeline Region)

VOF will host a one-hour Forest CORE Fund Grant Workshop Webinar on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. using Microsoft Teams. The webinar will address key program requirements and criteria, provide guidance on material to submit with the application and share tips on navigating the grant portal. Registration is required. Click the button below to register.

Click here to register for the workshop

The Forest CORE (Community Opportunities for Restoration and Enhancement) Fund for the Mountain Valley Pipeline region was established under VOF’s TERRA Program in June 2018 using $15 million from a mitigation agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC. The Fund’s purpose is to mitigate forest fragmentation that results from the clearing and grubbing activities along the pipeline’s 303-mile right-of-way through Virginia. Grants will be awarded to projects that mitigate for forest fragmentation by preserving, connecting and enhancing forest resources.

Project Area

Projects must be located within localities 50 miles or less from the Mountain Valley Pipeline route. See below for an interactive map of the route and eligible area for projects, which is outlined by the bold line on the map.

Objective

To provide mitigation of forest fragmentation through:

  • Avoided deforestation.
  • Establishment of forest land.
  • Restoration/enhancement of forest land.

Types of Projects Funded

Projects that result in avoided deforestation such as:

  • Purchase of conservation/open-space easements on properties that will include requirements for forest management and prohibition of conversion of forest land.
  • Purchase of additional limiting terms on land under conservation easement to prohibit conversion of forest land.
  • Fee-simple acquisition of forest land with prohibition of conversion of forest land.

Projects that restore or establish forest land such as:

  • Afforestation of un-forested lands.

Projects that enhance forest land such as:

  • Timber stand improvement to create healthy native forest composition and structure.
  • Controlled burning to restore and maintain fire regimes.
  • Invasive-exotic species control.

Funding Amount Available

$3 million will be made available to fund grant proposals in fiscal year 2026. There is no maximum or minimum grant award criteria. Additional grant funds will be made available in fiscal year 2027.

Eligible Applicants

  • State and federal agencies, localities, public bodies, park authorities, planning district commissions, regional public access authorities, tribal councils, soil and water conservation districts.
  • Charitable corporations, associations, or trusts declared exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U. S. C. A. §501 (c) (3).

Minimum Requirements

Any forest land preserved, established, or enhanced using funding from this grant program must be:

  • Protected from conversion in perpetuity.
  • Managed for the health of the forest ecosystem, which includes restrictions on timber harvesting.

Application Information & Timeline

The FY2026 grant round for the Forest CORE Fund will open on November 12, 2025. Please check back then for updates or contact grants@vof.org with questions.

Grant Manual

Scroll down to the Downloads section to obtain a PDF version of the 2020-2021 grant manual and supporting documentation. Note that the FY 2021 grant round has been completed. These documents are being provided for reference only.

Reference Documents

TitleLink

Forest CORE Fund News