2026/27 Effectiveness Monitoring Committee Request for Research Proposals to test the California Forest Practice Rules and related regulations

The Effectiveness Monitoring Committee (EMC) of the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection administers a grant program designed to support scientific research evaluating the effectiveness of the California Forest Practice Rules (FPRs) and other related environmental regulations. These rules govern a broad spectrum of natural resource protection concerns, including watershed conservation, wildlife habitat, and wildfire hazard mitigation. The EMC’s overarching goal is to create a feedback mechanism between science and policy by funding applied research and facilitating the integration of research findings into rulemaking and regulatory improvements. Grantees are expected to contribute to this policy feedback loop by producing white papers, peer-reviewed articles, and public presentations that convey key findings and implications for forest and rangeland management across California. The EMC Grant Program is open to a broad range of public, nonprofit, private, and tribal entities, including higher education institutions, local and state governments, federal agencies, Native American tribes, special districts, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. For-profit entities may participate as in-kind contributors but cannot be directly involved in data analysis or report authorship. All research must be applicable to privately owned, non-federal timberlands in California, though it may be conducted on other types of land if relevance to private lands is clearly demonstrated. Projects should ideally span large landscapes, cross multiple jurisdictions, and produce findings with broad applicability across the state. The total funding pool for the 2026–2029 cycle is $1,111,459, distributed across three fiscal years: $261,459 in FY 2026/27, and $425,000 in each of FY 2027/28 and 2028/29. Individual applicants may request funding up to the annual cap, but EMC encourages distribution of funds across multiple projects. Awards are contingent on the Governor's budget approval and cannot be encumbered before July 1, 2026. Reimbursement is limited to costs incurred during the active project period, and projects must conclude by March 31, 2029. Proposals should address at least one of the EMC’s twelve Research Themes and related Critical Monitoring Questions (CMQs), with bonus points awarded to those targeting prioritized CMQs established annually. The application process is two-staged. Initial Concept Proposals are due by May 18, 2026, and must include a project summary, objectives, methods, estimated budget by fiscal year, and identification of relevant CMQs and FPRs. If selected, applicants are invited to submit a Full Project Proposal, due in July 2026. The full proposal requires additional detail including deliverables, milestones, a complete line-item budget (using a required template), and documentation of SAM registration. Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with prioritized CMQs, level of scientific uncertainty addressed, geographic applicability, collaboration with other stakeholders, and feasibility of implementation. The EMC evaluates all proposals based on published scoring metrics, including the project's relevance to current forest policy questions and its scientific rigor. Final selections will be announced in September 2026, with work expected to begin in December 2026. Required deliverables include biannual status updates, final technical reports, and open-access publication of peer-reviewed results. All grantee-produced materials must include standardized funding acknowledgment statements. In addition to scientific dissemination, awardees are encouraged to participate in public education, EMC meetings, and Board presentations. Questions about the program and proposal submissions should be directed to Kristina Wolf, Environmental Scientist, via email at [email protected]. All application materials must be submitted electronically. Additional program information and resources, including the Research Themes, CMQs, and past project lists, can be accessed through the EMC’s page on the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection website.

Emphasize alignment with prioritized Critical Monitoring Questions, demonstrate broad geographic and policy applicability, and ensure scientific rigor with strong documentation of methods and outcomes.