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Private Land Cost Share Forest Health Thinning

Diagram of fire defensible space zones around a house: Zone 1 (0-5 ft), Zone 2 (5-30 ft), Zone 3 (30-100 ft).

Ciudad SWCD's East Mountain Forest Health Program (EMFHP) offers technical and financial assistance to East Mountain residents for defensible space and wildfire risk reduction thinning of overly dense forested properties.

In general untreated East Mountain properties have 2x as many trees as they should for optimal forest health and defensible space. 

Our program covers 80% of the cost ( for Project Agreements signed August 2025 or later) for defensible space and forest health projects completed through the program.

Funding is available and applications are accepted year round.

Coordination and project planning takes place year round.

As of 2025, on the ground work takes place between October and April. This is due to prolonged drought, bark beetle, and wildfire concerns. This progam at Ciudad has be operating for 22+ years.

Apply here ASAP, the time between submitting an application and having the work completed is typically 6 months to 1 year depending on time of year, available contractors, and complexity of your project.

To participate in our program your property should be located within Ciudad SWCD or the La Madera/San Pedro areas of Coronado SWCD. If you are within the Bernalillo County area of Central Tri-County SWCD, you may apply for the Ciudad Program and we will coordinate with you and Central Tri-County to determine which program is the best fit. This site from the NM State Engineer will help you quickly identify what SWCD your property resides in

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information and click the link in the green box to the right to submit an application today! 

Flowchart illustrating forest maintenance process: Application, Assessment, Plan Review, Agreement, Thinning, Inspection, Completion, Maintenance.

 

May contain: plant, tree, grove, land, nature, outdoors, vegetation, woodland, tree trunk, ground, soil, and wilderness

For more information or a paper application, please email ricky@ciudadswcd.org. 

Ciudad's East Mountain Forest Health Program (EMFHP) was implemented to assist landowners in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire damage on private property, while at the same time improving the forest's overall health.

The EMFHP is a cooperative effort between Ciudad SWCD, the State Forestry Division of the NM Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and private landowners. All treatments are done voluntarily.  

A hillside with trees, a building visible in the midground, and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.
Trees and shrubs on a rocky landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
Landscape with dry ground, sparse vegetation, and a clear blue sky with a few clouds.
A forest scene with tall trees, branches, and a sunlit forest floor.
A forest with trees, rocky ground, and a partly cloudy sky.
A forest scene with trees and some cut branches on the ground. Overcast sky in the background.
A sunlit forest scene with trees, dry grass, and scattered rocks under a clear blue sky.
Cleared forest area with tree stumps showing a neighbor's property line after thinning.
A house with a brown wall, fenced path, trees, and dry grass in a wooded area.
A wooded area with stacked logs and rocks on the ground, surrounded by trees in a sunlit forest setting.
"Before" and "After" images show a forest area with underbrush cleared, improving visibility and space.
Before and after shots of a tree clearing, with a better view of the forest, and more light in the after photo.
A hillside with trees, a building visible in the midground, and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.
Trees and shrubs on a rocky landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
Landscape with dry ground, sparse vegetation, and a clear blue sky with a few clouds.
A forest scene with tall trees, branches, and a sunlit forest floor.
A forest with trees, rocky ground, and a partly cloudy sky.
A forest scene with trees and some cut branches on the ground. Overcast sky in the background.
A sunlit forest scene with trees, dry grass, and scattered rocks under a clear blue sky.
Cleared forest area with tree stumps showing a neighbor's property line after thinning.
A house with a brown wall, fenced path, trees, and dry grass in a wooded area.
A wooded area with stacked logs and rocks on the ground, surrounded by trees in a sunlit forest setting.
"Before" and "After" images show a forest area with underbrush cleared, improving visibility and space.
Before and after shots of a tree clearing, with a better view of the forest, and more light in the after photo.

 

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