Forest Legacy

Protecting
private forest
lands through
acquisition and
conservation easements.

What is the Forest Legacy Program?

The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with State agencies to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases.

Our Work

The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to identify and conserve environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. Providing economic incentives to landowners to keep their forest as forests encourages sustainable forest management and supports strong markets for forest products.​

  • Over $13M to CA, HI and American Samoa to Conserve Private Forestlands

    oil on canvas, fire burning at night through a natural area, the fire is reflected in water

    Funding will conserve ecologically and economically significant forestlands across the region, thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

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  • Pacific Union College in California grows forest conservation

    street map with canopy overlaid

    Pacific Union College Phase 2 was funded by the Forest Legacy Program through the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect this ecologically unique working forest and the public access it provides.

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  • Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands

    map of urban tree canopy in San Francisco

    Forest Legacy easements and acquisitions in Hawaiʻi have protected valuable native forest land and habitat for endangered forest species; beyond Hawaiʻi, the Yela Valley Forest Legacy easement in the Federated States of Micronesia was the first permanent easement in Asia-Pacific.

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Partners

The Forest Service works with a diverse group of partners including state agencies, land trusts, and other conservation organizations to protect working forests.

Resources

To keep you in the know, here are some resources about:

 

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