1. (a) “Biomass utilization” means activities that 1) utilize woody biomass for wood products such as post and pole, firewood, dimensional lumber, engineered wood products, or other products that allow for continued carbon storage; 2) generate molecules or energy through combustion or gasification, which displaces carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy; 3) utilize woody biomass to help develop markets for beneficial uses of the material; or (4) utilize woody biomass for beneficial uses on the landscape.
2. (b) “Cultural burning” means the intentional application of fire to land by a California Native American tribe, a tribal organization, or a cultural fire practitioner to achieve cultural goals or objectives, including for sustenance, ceremonial activities, biodiversity, or other benefits consistent with Public Resources Code section 4002.4.
3. (c) “Department” means the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection consistent with Public Resources Code section 4003.
4. (d) “Director” means the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection consistent with Public Resources Code section 4004.
5. (e) “Disadvantaged Community” means a community with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the area average or less than 80 percent of statewide median household income consistent with Public Resources Code section 90100.
6. (f) “Environmental Justice” means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, income, and national origin with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies consistent with Public Resources Code section 71110.
7. (g) “Forest land” is land that can support 10-percent native tree cover of any species, including hardwoods, under natural conditions, and that allows for management of one or more forest resources, including timber, aesthetics, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, recreation, and other public benefits consistent with Public Resources Code section 12220(g).
8. (h) “Forest fuels reduction” means activities to treat trees and brush with the goal of reducing fire hazards, improving tree growth, stabilizing carbon in retained trees, and increasing forest resilience. Forest fuels reduction activities can be manual or mechanical, including prescribed burning, cultural burning, and prescribed grazing, and must be designed to change stand structure to: (1) concentrate carbon storage in widely spaced and larger trees that are more resilient to wildfire, drought, and pest outbreaks; and (2) reduce the likelihood of wildfire transitioning from the forest floor into the forest canopy.
9. (i) “Grant” means an award of funds made by the Department, in the form advance payment or reimbursement to the Grantee for actual expenditures incurred in performing an eligible project.
10. (j) “Grant Agreement” means an arrangement between the State and grantee specifying the payment of funds by the State for the performance of specific objectives by the grantee within a specific project performance period by the grantee.
11. (k) “Grantee” means an applicant that has a Grant Agreement.
12. (l) “Joint Powers Authority” means any entity formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, if at least one of the parties to the joint powers agreement qualifies as an eligible applicant consistent with section 14002.
13. (m) “Nonprofit Organization” means any nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code consistent with Public Resources Code section 90100.
14. (n) “Pest management” means activities that address pest control and related forest health improvement, while reducing pest-related mortality, improving tree growth, stabilizing.
15. (o) “Prescribed burning” means the planned application and confinement of fire to wild land fuels on lands selected in advance of that application to achieve any of the following objectives: (1) Prevention of high-intensity wild land fires through reduction of the volume and continuity of wild land fuels; (2) Watershed management; (3) Range improvement; (4) Vegetation management; (5) Forest improvement; (6) Wildlife habitat improvement; (7) Air quality maintenance, consistent with Public Resources Code section 4464(e).
16. (p) “Prescribed grazing” means the lawful application of grazing by a specific kind of livestock at a determined season, duration, and intensity to accomplish defined vegetation or conservation goals, including reducing the risk of wildfire by reducing fuel loads, controlling undesirable or invasive plants, and promoting biodiversity and habitat for special status species. Prescribed grazing may involve any or multiple kinds of livestock consistent with Public Resources Code section 4004.5.
17. (q) “Reforestation” means the planting of trees to establish a diverse, native forest with site-appropriate trees, which will result in stable carbon sequestration and storage, improved watershed and habitat functions, forest resilience, and prevent the conversion of previously forested land to shrub fields that suppress future reforestation. Reforestation includes all activities required to accomplish reforestation, including the preparation of sites for planting and the collection or purchase of cones and seeds.
18. (r) “Severely Disadvantaged Community” means a community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the area average or less than 60 percent of statewide median household income consistent with Public Resources Code section 90100.
19. (s) “Tribe” means a federally recognized Native American tribe or a non-federally recognized Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission consistent with Public Resources Code section 90100.
20. (t) “Vulnerable Population” means a subgroup of a population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts consistent with Public Resources Code section 90100.

The following definitions shall apply wherever the terms are used throughout this Chapter.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4799.02, 91500 and 91520, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 4799.05, 90100, 90110, 90130, 90133, 90135, 90140, 90150, 90610, 91500 and 91520, Public Resources Code.

History

1. New section filed 2-9-2026 as an emergency; operative 2-9-2026 (Register 2026, No. 7). This action is a deemed emergency and shall remain in effect until repealed or revised by the council pursuant to Public Resources Code section 90135(e).