The Regenerate NY (RNY) Forestry Cost Share Grant Program offers reimbursement of up to 90% for certain forest regeneration practices on private forest lands in New York. This program, managed by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is aimed at improving forest health through various practices, including reforestation, deer exclosures, and vegetation management. Applicants must provide a 10% match of the grant funds awarded, which is separate from the total project cost.

Eligible applicants include private landowners with at least five acres of forested or forest-suitable land, either on a single tax parcel or contiguous parcels. Additionally, applicants may use a fiscal sponsor, such as a not-for-profit organization, or the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) if they agree to manage the grant funds. Fiscal sponsors must submit a letter of agreement, confirming their role and submitted via the Statewide Financial System (SFS).

To participate, landowners must engage a private forester or qualified natural resource professional for planning and implementing the project. Applications require a work plan developed in collaboration with these professionals, detailing initial conditions, desired future conditions, and methods for achieving forest regeneration goals. Grant requests can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per round, and multiple practices may be combined on a single property. Timber sales on the property do not disqualify eligibility, and some regeneration practices can occur alongside timber operations.

Applications are managed through the Statewide Financial System, where applicants register and submit required documentation. Approved projects have up to four years for completion, and grantees must submit cost documentation (e.g., invoices and receipts) to receive reimbursement. Should funds be exhausted, applicants not funded in the current round will need to reapply in the following funding cycle, as applications are not carried over.