Cooperative Forestry

The Cooperative Forestry Staff, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, works with States, private landowners, and other partners to promote healthy forests and livable communities throughout the United States. Our programs and partnerships help private landowners and rural communities care for their forests, strengthen local economies, and maintain a high quality of life.

There are nearly 500 million acres of non-Federal forest land in the United States, comprising about 20 percent of the Nation, and two-thirds of the Nation's forests. Over 50 percent of the Nation's forests are privately owned. Management practices on these lands impact the social, economic, and natural environment for everyone.

In partnership with State forestry agencies, Cooperative Forestry currently manages a number of programs:

The Forest Stewardship Program provides assistance to important state and private forestlands where good stewardship, including agroforestry applications, will enhance and sustain the long term productivity of multiple forest resources and produce healthy, resilient forest landscapes. The program provides landowners with the professional planning and technical assistance they need to keep their land in a productive and healthy condition.

The Forest Legacy Program provides grants to state lead agencies to permanently protect environmentally important forest lands through conservation easements or by fee acquisition. This voluntary program is designed to provide conservation value to working forests in the face of development pressures and ensures protection of clean water, wildlife habitat, and public access for recreation.

The Community Forest Program provides financial assistance to local governments, Tribal governments, and qualified nonprofit entities to establish community forests that provide continuing and accessible community benefits. The program’s two purposes are to assist communities in acquiring forestland that would provide public recreation, environmental and economic benefits, and forest-based educational programs, and to protect forestland that has been identified as a national, regional, or local priority for protection.

The Urban & Community Forestry Program provides technical, financial, and educational services to communities so they can plant, protect, maintain, and utilize wood from community trees and forests to maximize social, environmental, and economic benefits. The U.S. Forest Service plays a critical role in the management, protection and wise use of over 130 million acres of urban and community forest land through the Urban & Community Forestry (U&CF) Program. For over 35 years U&CF has provided assistance to cities, suburbs and towns, where more than 80% of Americans live, to improve the health of urban and community forests for the benefit of all. 

Our staff are also exploring national opportunities to advance markets and payments for Ecosystem Services and Woody Utilization.  With help from our partners and others, we are encouraging broader thinking and collaboration that stimulates market-based conservation and stewardship.  One of our goals is to improve the use of wood in tandem with forest management activities on public and private lands.

We are a partnership-driven organization. Federal funding is provided to States, local governments, and non-profit organizations to leverage additional resources and fuel innovative ideas. We work closely with other units within the Forest Service, and other federal agencies to enhance and maintain forests across watersheds and ecosystems, both on private and public land.