Forest Legacy 2025 Funded Projects
In 2025, the Forest Service is supporting the permanent conservation of more than 82,000 acres of private and economically important forested areas in 13 states.
These private working forestlands provide critical timber supplies and recreation opportunities for economic security and jobs in rural communities. The projects are funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
We partner with states, in close coordination with tribes and local communities, to invest in conserving the most economically and environmentally important forests across the nation. The Forest Legacy Program helps to ensure that the forests most critical to the economic and social fabric of local communities are conserved as working forests for people to use and enjoy.
Congress established the Forest Legacy program in 1990, which is administered by the Forest Service.
2025 Funded Forest Legacy Projects by State
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Weogufuka State Forest Expansion Coosa County, Alabama Located at the southernmost tip of Appalachian Mountain Range, the Weogufka State Forest hosts rare Montane longleaf pine forests and the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail (PNRT), which provides access to the Eastern Continental Trail and Appalachian Trail and is popular with backpackers. The state forest will be expanded through the acquisition of 4,500 acres, securing the Pinhoti Trail and its unique views. Trails will be added to the property to increase recreational use and connectivity to the state forest in partnership with the Alabama Trails Commission. Outdoor recreation contributes $5 billion to Alabama’s annual GDP, generating more than 58,000 jobs throughout the state. | $7,125,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| The Sonoita Creek Wildlife Corridor Patagonia, Arizona This phase of the Sonoita Creek Wildlife Corridor conserves 756 acres through a conservation easement. The project is vital for the movement of jaguar and 40 other at-risk wildlife between the U.S. and Mexico's ecologically diverse Sky Islands and two Coronado National Forest districts. The project protects the unique views of a new section of the Arizona National Scenic Trail, which hosts 3,000-plus visitors annually, and significant tracts of riparian habitat and Madrean Oak Woodlands. This project protects the town's only water supply and would enhance ground water recharge by helping protect three major watershed tributaries: the Sonoita, Redrock, and Casa Blanca creeks. | $2,200,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Brushy Mountain Phase 4, Eel River Peninsula Mendocino County, California This 13,124-acre conservation easement will conserve forestlands, encourage sustainable forest management, and protect critical wildlife habitat. The project will improve water quality by protecting 6 miles of the Eel River and 5 miles of the Middle Fork Eel River. Legal public access along the Eel River is limited. Phase 4 includes a 100-acre recreation area to be deeded to the public, providing fishing, boating and recreation access. The project supports 100 million board feet of saleable timber and potential annual harvest of 4.5 million board feet equivalent to $3.75 million in annual salaries and 49 full-time jobs. | $11,675,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Upatoi Ravines Talbot County, Georgia This acquisition will conserve 9,016 acres of productive forestland and the headwaters of the Upatoi Creek, which provides drinking water for Fort Benning Army Base, as a state Wildlife Management Area. The project will benefit Talbot County by ensuring local employment in the forest industry, providing public access for recreation, increasing ecotourism, and protecting water quality. With 25 Georgia mills and 10 Alabama mills within 70 miles of the project, it supports over 2,500 jobs. Located only three miles from Fort Moore along their Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration and GA Sentinel Landscape boundaries, the project supports military readiness by buffering the base. | $13,500,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| South Kona Forest Hawaii County, Hawaii This strategic 220-acre acquisition on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano will expand the State of Hawaii’s South Kona Forest Reserve on the island of Hawaii. This project will link two sections of the state-owned forest reserve and provide much-needed public and state management access to the region, enhancing the state’s ability to manage areas that are currently inaccessible due to private ownership. The tract’s native forests enhance watershed recharge to the Mauna Loa aquifer, which supplies fresh water to people and agriculture in the communities of South Kona. | $1,500,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Spirit of Mountain Spokane - ID Phase 2A Kootenai County, Idaho This phase of the multi-state conservation easement effort will safeguard 6,504 of the total 40,891 acres of Inland Empire Paper Company working forestlands, allowing sustainable forest management on the tract which produces 4-6 million board feet of merchantable timber, generating over $10 million annually. The project ensures protection of clean water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. This phase is within the recharge zone of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, supplying clean drinking water to over 675,000 people. The conservation easement will allow for public access including hiking, fishing, berry-picking, hunting, and cross-country skiing, while providing access to over 4,500 acres of Idaho state lands. | $8,000,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Catfish Creek Headwaters Dubuque County, Iowa This conservation easement on 1,456 acres of mature central hardwood forests is approximately 2 miles southeast of Dubuque city limits, which has a population of 59,000. This property grows high-quality timber that supports jobs within Iowa's $220 million sawmill industry, including at 12 sawmills within 60 miles of the headwaters. The property provides 24 million board feet of sustainably harvested wood to support the landowners' casket making business, which generates $5 million in revenue and is known internationally for their high-quality caskets. The project provides critical buffering from agricultural fields to Catfish Creek, which runs the length of the property and provides wildlife habitat and clean drinking water. | $3,335,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Stimson Timberland Legacy Lincoln, Sanders and Mineral Counties, Montana This 20,854-acre conservation easement is part of a larger 230,000-acre effort to conserve Stimson Lumber Company's Inland Base in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. This multi-state effort will ensure that these lands continue to be managed for sustainable forestry and support the viability of regional mills through the 1.5 million board feet of merchantable Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified timber it produces per year and generates $2.1 million. The work will connect productive timberlands, ensuring wide-ranging fish and wildlife can continue to move unimpeded through a vast forest landscape. The property will be permanently accessible to the public to enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and snowmobiling. | $10,200,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Musket Mountain Forest Pushmataha County, Oklahoma The fee acquisition of the 11,333-acre Musket Mountain Forest is the opportunity of a lifetime for Oklahoma's Forestry Services to establish the Musket Mountain State Forest, Oklahoma's first state forest. The project will support Oklahoma’s forest economy that generates $5 billion in annual revenue while strengthening the Oklahoma's Forest Services education and training capacity. It will protect critical wildlife habitat and water quality in the Red River watershed, plus secure permanent public access to support Oklahoma’s $4.3 billion outdoor recreation economy. | $15,915,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| The Columbia Gorge Forest Wasco and Hood River Counties, Oregon Through a conservation easement, the Columbia Gorge Forest will secure 16,060 acres of productive conifer forests and oak woodlands on the eastside of the Cascade Mountains in northern Oregon. This forested landscape supports thriving timber and recreation economies and drinking water for the region’s largest city, The Dalles. The property is owned by a family-run timber company and provides timber to three local mills, supporting an estimated 43 jobs in the area. The property also hosts one of the most-used mountain bike trails in Oregon, which will be permanently secured by the conservation easement. The recreation economy in the Mt. Hood/Columbia Gorge region supports 7,400 jobs and contributes $293 million to the Gross Domestic Product. | $2,485,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Zion Connectivity Project Washington County, Utah This 766-acre conservation easement will help form a 1,752-acre linkage with other conserved lands bordering Zion National Park. The project contains many springs and creeks including La Verkin Creek, which benefits numerous wildlife species within the park and provides water to the imperiled Virgin and Colorado rivers, which support millions of people downstream. The project will preserve critical wildlife habitat for species such as California condors, water resources for downstream users, unique views, and recreation access to neighboring public lands. The project provides access to canyoneering groups to explore slot canyons bordering the park. | $3,000,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Hazen's Notch Montgomery, Westfield and Lowell, Vermont This 1,959-acre conservation easement will improve landscape connectivity in an internationally important wildlife linkage and protect the headwaters and viewsheds of the Missisquoi River watershed. Acquisition will ensure permanent public access to this popular destination for hunting, fishing, skiing, and hiking, and preserving the vital economic contributions that tourism and recreation provide to these rural towns. The project will protect three tracts of family owned, sustainably managed forestland critical for supporting 46 sawmills, 53 firewood dealers and 110 loggers within 50 miles. | $2,260,000 |
| Project Name | Funding |
|---|---|
| Spirit of Mount Spokane - WA Phase 2b Spokane County, Washington This phase of a multi-state conservation easement effort will protect 7,422 of the total 40,891 acres of working forestlands, which will allow for sustainable forest management expected to generate $50 million-plus in area activity over the next decade. This project ensures clean water, recreation, and habitat protection. These forestlands drain into and recharge the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, the drinking water provider for over 675,000 residents. The project's protected forestlands will expand the adjacent 12,444-acre Mount Spokane State Park, a recreational hub. It will provide compatible public access to the lands and connect to over 5,713 acres of Washington-Idaho state lands. | $5,060,000 |
Prior Years Funded Proposals by State
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Dugdown Corridor Connection Cleburne County, AL The 9,888-acre fee simple acquisition will connect and extend one of the South's most vital forested climate resiliency corridors; a path for rare and unique species and plant communities from the Talladega National Forest to Paulding-Sheffield Wildlife Management Area in Georgia. It will increase Alabama's state forest system by 68% and Alabama Forestry Commission will begin establishing longleaf to complement the mature natural hardwood/pine stands on the property. | $19,500,000 | |
| Dugdown Mountain Corridor Stateline Project – Alabama Cleburne County, AL This 1,984-acre proposed acquisition builds on a multi-state conservation effort stretching from the Paulding-Sheffield Forest Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia to the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. This project contains 10.5 miles of streams, and preventing its fragmentation or conversion will help maintain water quality for wildlife and the community. | $3,750,000 | |
| Weogufka State Forest Expansion Coosa County, AL At the tip of the Appalachian Mountain Range is Weogufka State Forest, home to 240 acres of upland hardwoods and the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail trailhead, which provides access to the Appalachian Trail and Eastern Continental Trail. This 558-acre project will expand the State Forest and protect the trail and its viewshed and provide public access to additional miles of trails for new recreational opportunities. | $1,205,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Last Stand: Preserving NAUMATI Lowland Rainforest Tafuna Plain, Tutuila Island, American Samoa The NAUMATI Lowland Rainforest will be preserved as American Samoa’s first locally managed Territorial Conservation Park by fee acquisition. After a 40-year struggle to save the forest, the Indigenous Samoan government will manage these 26 acres for conservation education, nature recreation, and economic growth through ecotourism while permanently protecting critical wildlife habitat. | $10,330,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Date Creek Bosque Forest Legacy Project Date Creek, AZ This 647-acre conservation easement features 1.6 miles of one of the healthiest riparian corridors in Arizona, where less than 10% of these natural communities remain in their natural form. The presence of the federally-listed Southwestern willow flycatcher and Yellow-billed cuckoo have been confirmed as well as several Arizona special status species. Three generations live on the property, managing a sustainable ranch and orchard with a goal to continue stewarding the land. | $1,110,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Ridge II Wildlife Linkage Lake Arrowhead, CA This conservation easement will protect key wildlife habitat, scenic views from the tallest summit in the area, and the only public hiking access in the vicinity of Lake Arrowhead by conserving 94 acres of unique southern Sierran montane mixed-coniferous forest in this lake resort area east of Los Angeles. It provides habitat for 7 federal and 5 state species of concern including the southern rubber boa and lies within the Pacific Flyway for 100 bird species. | $1,500,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Dugdown Mountain Corridor PIJ Tract Polk County, GA This 1,817-acre project connects to the Fiscal Year 24 Dugdown Mountain Corridor Stateline Georgia and Alabama tracts and builds on 6 previous Forest Legacy projects. The project connects Paulding Forest and Sheffield Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia to the Talladega National Forest in Alabama- totaling more than 32,000 acres. This project will protect high quality, climate-resilient forestland, rare plants, bat habitat, and aquatic species. | $1,500,000 | |
| Dugdown Mountain Corridor Stateline Project Polk and Haralson Counties, GA This 8,384-acre project builds on a multi-state conservation effort stretching from the Paulding-Sheffield Forest Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia to the Talladega National Forest in Alabama. This project, combined with an adjacent Forest Legacy project, will conserve 10,366 acres, protecting rare plants, bats and aquatic species. The proposed acquisition will assure permanent yearlong public access for hunting, camping, wildlife viewing, and fishing. | $17,500,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| East Maui Rainforest Haiku, Maui, HI This strategic 74-acre fee acquisition will secure public access to forest, stream, and shoreline resources that support recreational, cultural, and subsistence uses. These coastal forests contain designated federal critical habitat for 5 federally endangered plant species and roosting and foraging habitat for the federally endangered Hawaiian hoary bat. Paakea Stream provides habitat for native stream fauna and nutrient-rich freshwater for coastal fisheries. | $1,500,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit of Mount Spokane Conservation Project Kootenai County, ID This project adds 6,504 acres of Idaho lands to a multi-state conservation easement effort that will safeguard a total of 40,891 acres of working forestlands and provide access to a recreational gem. This project is within the recharge zone of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, replenishing the water system and supplying clean drinking water to over 675,000 people in Kootenai and Spokane counties. | $5,000,000 | |
| Stimson Timberland Legacy- Idaho Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Latah, and Shoshone Counties, ID At 84,784 acres, Idaho's portion of the tri-state Stimson Timberland Legacy project is landscape scale and ties together the fabric of conservation between public lands and existing private land conservation. The project provides layered economic, public access, recreational, wildlife and fisheries benefits, but does so at a scale that protects and connects mountain ranges and preserves an entire functioning ecosystem. | $40,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sioux Forest Project Monona County, IA This project will fulfill a long-term State of Iowa goal to expand the Loess Hills State Forest with 1,769 acres of high-quality forest. The Little Sioux Forest is located in the nationally significant Loess Hills, a 650,000 acre geologically important and biodiverse landform created by the accumulation of windblown silt deposits following the last ice age. | $4,650,000 | |
| Searryl's Cave Forest Addition Jones County, IA This fee simple acquisition of 235 acres adjacent to Searryl's Cave State Preserve is home to a large population of overwintering bats, including the declining Little brown bat and Federally Endangered Northern long eared bat. The property includes a 2.3-mile stretch of the North Fork Maquoketa River which is popular with paddlers. The proposed tract features a wide diversity of vegetation types ranging from floodplain forest communities to high-quality central hardwoods. | $1,370,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Forest Project High Peaks Region, ME This 3,840-acre conservation easement builds on 72,464 acres of nearby Forest Legacy projects and will secure public access for recreation, including 4 miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, 7 miles of ATV/snowmobile trails, and thousands of acres for hunting. The property has contributed to Maine's $8.5 billion forest products industry for 4+ decades. | $1,150,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Grant Ashburnham, MA The Cambridge Grant Project will conserve 49 acres of forestland and state designated priority habitat through a conservation easement. It provides connectivity for the movement of species, buffers priority core habitat on Fitchburg Reservoir and provides public access to open space. Seventy percent of the tract is in the City of Fitchburg's public water supply watershed, which serves 41,500 residents. | $225,000 | ||
| Jones Hill Connection Ashby, MA The Jones Hill Connection project will permanently conserve 105 forested acres in Ashby, MA by municipal fee acquisition. The property has high strategic value and would become a part of a large network of other conservation land, including other Forest Legacy Program tracts in the area. The property is an upper headwaters area for cold-water fishery tributaries to the federally designated Wild & Scenic Squannacook River. | $445,000 | ||
| Pine Nook Forest North Deerfield, MA The Pine Nook Forest North project will permanently protect 122 acres of forest through fee purchase by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. The tract is located on a regionally prominent landform, the Pocumtuck Ridge, which is a state priority for conservation given its ecological, historic, scenic and recreational values. The project will greatly advance the protection of the Pocumtuck Ridge Trail, a historic path that now serves as a popular hiking destination with scenic views over the Deerfield River Valley. | $320,000 | ||
| Pine Nook Forest South Deerfield, MA The Pine Nook Forest South Forest Legacy Project will permanently protect 141 acres of forest through fee purchase by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. This is the most developable private land holding on the Pocumtuck Ridge, which makes its acquisition highly strategic in helping spur further conservation along the ridgeline. Its proximity to three other Forest Legacy projects means its protection would build upon previous investments in the Connecticut River Valley. | $920,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Betsie River Springs Benzie County, MI Comprised of both upland and lowland forests, natural springs, and over a mile of river frontage, this 105-acre project is a strategic priority in Michigan. The Betsie River, considered to be the best river for naturally reproducing Chinook salmon in Michigan and a very popular steelhead stream, is a state-designated Natural River and a designated trout stream. | $330,000 | |
| Elk Run Cheboygan County, MI Comprised of 243 acres of an upland forest mix of oak, pine, and aspen, this proposed acquisition provides habitat connectivity and serves as a travel corridor for species such as black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, and elk. Elk Run is located in the heart of Michigan's core elk range in the Pigeon River Country State Forest, known as the "Big Wild" as it is the largest wilderness-like area in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. | $300,000 | |
| Michigamme Highlands Project Marquette, Baraga and Iron Counties, MI At 73,000 acres, acquisition of this conservation easement will prevent fragmentation, ensure sustainable forest management and offer full public motorized and non-motorized recreational access. The entire tract falls within the home territory of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and 620 acres is located within KBIC’s reservation. The project secures access to the tract for Keweenaw Bay Indian Community members for traditional hunting, fishing and gathering. | $15,075,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Great Outdoors Project - Phase 2 Lincoln, Flathead, and Sanders counties, MT This conservation easement will add 52,810 acres to the Montana Great Outdoors Project, conserving a total of ~86,000 acres in Montana. It improves habitat connectivity for ESA listed grizzly bear, wolverine, and Canada lynx across a critical corridor between the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area and Glacier National Park. It also provides public access for thousands of recreationists and 3 million board feet of timber/year to area mills. | $35,805,000 | |
| Upper Thompson Connectivity Project Thompson Falls, Sanders and Flathead Counties, MT This 24,865-acre conservation easement is the second phase of a 48,041-acre project protecting productive working forests in northwest Montana. Phase 2 complements Montana’s Fiscal Year 23 Forest Legacy project, and adds vital connectivity for grizzly bear, Canada lynx, and bull trout. The project borders 60 miles of the Lolo National Forest, 20 miles of state land, and 8 miles of an existing conservation easement, contributing to the integrity of the forest landscape. | $7,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ossipee Lake-Heath Pond Bog Expansion Effingham, Carroll County, NH The Ossipee Lake-Heath Pond Bog Expansion Project will conserve 88 acres via fee acquisition by the State of New Hampshire as an addition to the 1,368-acre Heath Pond Bog Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark. Located in the Lakes Region, which covers 20% of NH's land area but holds over 50% of NH's surface water, the project's wetlands and riparian protections will help protect clean drinking water for downstream users and provide flood mitigation. The project will secure public access for outdoor recreation, an economic driver in the Lakes Region, and build upon 19,067 acres of Forest Legacy Program investment. | $400,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermejo River Watershed Conservation Project Colfax County, NM The Vermejo River Watershed Conservation Project will conserve 32,580 acres through an innovative co-management partnership between a coalition of Tribal Nations and Pueblos who have ancestral ties to this land (Elk Valley Tribal Partnership, EVTP), the State of New Mexico, and The Nature Conservancy. The project is part of a larger 50,039-acre property that will be transitioned back into indigenous stewardship. The property includes 7.2 miles of the Vermejo River, a federally-listed impaired waterway, and provides habitat for eight ESA-listed species. | $50,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek Project Watauga County, NC This 1,218-acre acquisition includes some of the highest quality aquatic habitat for 27 North Carolina species of greatest conservation need and 8 federally listed non-aquatic threatened and endangered species. The property represents a link between two properties, creating a nearly 3,000-acre public land asset that will be managed and used by the public in addition to being visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited National Park Site in the United States. | $13,500,000 | |
| Roanoke River Bottomlands Forest Project Martin County, NC This project expands a protected corridor along the Roanoke River to over 55,100 acres, which includes the Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge and is located at the river's confluence with the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary. It will create 2 new public access sites along the river as well as a camping platform and opportunities for public waterfowl hunting. The project lies within the Eastern NC Sentinel Landscape. | $3,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Sunfish Creek Pike County, OH This 3,125-acre fee simple acquisition will acquire key lands for the purposes of expanding a national and statewide hiking trail system, growing the Pike All-Purpose Vehicle area, supporting critical forest industry, increasing habitat for threatened and endangered species, protecting waterways and domestic water supply, and creating connectivity between the existing forestlands. These increased benefits will produce upward of $2 million annually for Pike County. | $8,205,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Tualatin Mountain Forest Phase 3 Portland Metropolitan Area, Multnomah County, OR Funding will complete a 3,111-acre fee simple acquisition, benefitting nearby communities and Portland Metro Area's recreation economy by creating new public access to over 20 miles of existing trails. The forest will serve as a national model of an actively managed research forest balancing financial productivity, carbon sequestration, healthy watershed, public access, recreation, and diverse plant and wildlife communities, including Oregon's diminishing oak woodlands. | $10,180,000 | |
| Tualatin Mountain Forest Project Multnomah County, OR This proposed acquisition will establish a 3,111-acre working research forest to be owned by Oregon State University. Pioneering forestry methods like climate-smart forestry, the project will serve as a national model for an actively managed forest that balances the needs of financial productivity, carbon sequestration, healthy watersheds, and diverse plant and wildlife communities. By creating public access to 24 miles of trails, this project will benefit both local residents and the Portland Metropolitan Area's outdoor recreation economy. | $3,630,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quaiapen Forest South Kingston, RI This conservation easement will conserve a 41-acre forest abutting the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's 1,100-acre Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge. Receiving Forest Legacy funding is the culmination of 14 years of work to conserve this property, in large part due to the presence of an intact Atlantic White Cedar swamp, which is a globally threatened type of wetland ecosystem. | $870,000 | ||
| Weetamoo Forest Tiverton, Rhode Island, RI The Weetamoo Forest Legacy Project will protect one of the most important open-space corridors in Rhode Island. This 30-acre conservation easement links The Nature Conservancy's 617-acre Pocasset Ridge Conservation Area (PRCA) to the Town of Tiverton's Weetamoo Woods and Pardon Gray Preserve which are two of the most popular hiking areas in Rhode Island's East Bay. Once secured, Weetamoo Forest will be added to PRCA and open to the public, bridging two popular trail systems. | $225,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Foothills Scenic Corridor Greenville, SC This 435-acre project's mature hardwood forest buffers and preserves the aquatic integrity of Short Branch Creek, a portion of the North Saluda River, and the Saluda Watershed Reservoir which it abuts, helping secure the drinking water supply for over one-half million people. The tract contains a diversity of unique communities and geologic features, harboring at least 81 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the South Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan. | $1,500,000 | |
| Great Pee Dee River Corridor – Tracts A and B Marion County, SC This fee purchase of 491 acres buffers and preserves the aquatic integrity of the Great Pee Dee River and its wetlands, helping secure both the drinking water supply for over 55,000 downstream consumers and Federally Designated Critical Habitat for Atlantic Sturgeon. This strategic project will protect sensitive ecological communities and provide more year-round public access for outdoor recreation. | $750,000 | |
| Pee Dee Basin Initiative Marion, Williamsburg, Georgetown Counties, SC The Pee Dee Basin Initiative, a 61,340-acre conservation easement and 880-acre fee simple acquisition is the largest single conservation land protection project ever undertaken by South Carolina. It will conserve expansive working forests to benefit the timber economy while conserving habitat for at least 115 priority plant and animal species and expand a corridor of protected lands to protect water resources and increase resiliency of South Carolina's landscape. | $50,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October |
|---|---|---|
| Ames State Forest Fayette County, Tennessee This 5,477-acre fee acquisition will create a new state forest and add to conserved lands across the Wolf watershed in two states. It protects 30 stream miles, 1,500+ wetland acres, and the Memphis Sand Aquifer- a critical drinking water supply for 2.8 million people. It opens new public recreation access and safeguards decades of irreplaceable research and education in forestry, wildlife, archaeology, and cultural history by the University of Tennessee. | $16,950,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Thicket-Neches River Corridor Hardin, Jasper, and Orange counties, TX The Big Thicket-Neches River Corridor project will protect 39,762 acres of Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified timberland along 63 miles of the Neches River, including over 24,000 acres of forested wetlands. This will be the largest working forest conservation easement in Texas, strategically buffering a federally protected river corridor of the National Park Service's Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP). This conservation easement will increase protected lands in the Big Thicket region by 35%, increase connectivity within BTNP, conserve habitat for rare and diverse species, and contribute to floodplain protection- all while keeping the property in private ownership and in forest production. | $28,890,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasatch Back Forest Conservation Project Summit County, UT This 8,588-acre project is located minutes from Park City and just 25 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah. The acquisition would protect the last privately-owned forested property of its size within this area of the Wasatch Mountains and link a corridor of 52,000 acres of protected land. The project will also restore five miles of creek, reestablishing Bonneville Cutthroat Trout—a species once thought to be extinct. | $40,000,000 | ||
| Zion Cave Canyon Kane County, UT This 177-acre conservation easement is located on the eastern border of Zion National Park, adjacent to Bureau of Land Management lands and the Zion Clear Creek Canyon tract. Containing a segment of Cave Creek, this tract ensures an unaltered flow into the park that links to the Virgin and Colorado Rivers, supporting millions of people and sensitive species downstream. The tract includes critical habitat and migration corridors for the federally endangered California condor, the federally threatened Mexican spotted owl, and mule deer populations. Preserving the tract will secure 1.1 miles of public hiking and mountain bike paths which connect to over 86 miles of trails that link to both the park and visitor center. | $1,250,000 | ||
| Zion Clear Creek Canyon Kane County, UT This 202-acre conservation easement is located on the eastern border of Zion National Park, adjacent to the Zion Cave Canyon tract. Containing a segment of Clear Creek, the tract ensures an unaltered flow into the park that links to the Virgin and Colorado Rivers which support millions of people and sensitive species downstream. The tract includes critical habitat and migration corridors for the federally endangered California condor, the federally threatened Mexican spotted owl, and mule deer populations. The project will secure permanent access to 3.5 miles of public hiking and mountain bike trails which connect to over 86 miles of trails that link to both the park and visitor center. | $1,500,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueberry Hill Expansion Project Ira, VT The fee acquisition of the 80-acre Blueberry Hill Tract will expand the existing Blueberry Hill Wildlife Management Area (BWA). BWA sits within an 18,600-acre forest block which provides significant wildlife habitat for a diversity of wildlife species. State acquisition of the tract will conserve 4,000 feet of forested headwater streams that flow to the Castleton River. The entire parcel is mapped as deer wintering area habitat and features a state-significant Mesic Maple-Ash-Hickory-Oak Forest natural community. | $205,000 | ||
| Elmore Mountain Morristown, VT The acquisition of the 90-acre Elmore Mountain Tract will expand the historic 995-acre Elmore State Park (ESP). Situated on the western flank of the Worcester Range, the tract will add to over 30,000 conserved acres and the significant forest block of this wild range. State acquisition of the tract will provide new public access to ESP and to the summit of Elmore Mountain, which is currently only accessible from the east. Protection of the tract will contribute to the flood resiliency of the Lamoille River Valley, an area prone to devastating flooding. | $1,130,000 | ||
| Moose River Essex County, VT This 327-acre project will be acquired by the State of Vermont as an addition to the Victory State Forest, and will secure dispersed public access. This project will expand a 29,400-acre block of conserved land in a focal area for climate resiliency and the Connecticut River Watershed, the country's only National Blueway. The property provides a source of local firewood, benefitting the community of Concord, VT. | $410,000 | ||
| Ninevah Forest Expansion Mount Holly, Rutland County, VT This conservation easement will protect 189 acres and complement adjacent protected lands by expanding public access, adding to an important wildlife corridor, and providing a forested buffer to the impressive wetland complex at the south end of Lake Ninevah. The project will protect state-designated Class II wetlands, natural communities of Basin Shrub Swamp, Hemlock-Balsam Fir-Black Ash Seepage Swamp, and four vernal pools. | $270,000 | ||
| Roxbury State Forest Expansion Washington County, VT This 348-acre project will expand the 5,509-acre Roxbury State Forest (RSF), strengthen RSF's connectivity to the Green Mountain National Forest, and further protect a 3,554-acre block of contiguous forestland. Successful completion of the Roxbury State Forest Expansion Project will secure public access for outdoor recreation and protect high elevation Montane Spruce-Fir habitat, critical for species vulnerable to climate change. | $495,000 | ||
| Salt Ash Flats Project Plymouth, VT This conservation easement will protect 99 acres contiguous to 3,280 acres of Forest Legacy forestlands owned and managed by the Ninevah Foundation. The Salt Ash Flats tract complements adjacent protected lands by adding to an important wildlife corridor, conserving the last unprotected inholding in the surrounding block of easement land and expanding public access and recreational opportunities. The project will protect portions of state-designated Class II wetlands along with two tributary streams that flow through the property. | $285,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle Sound Headwaters Brunswick, Southampton, Sussex Counties, VA This 21,822-acre conservation easement will protect over 35 square miles of highly productive working forests that provide raw wood materials to 19 timber mills as well as vital headwaters for Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary. It will also protect the water supply for the Hampton Roads Region where 1 in 5 Virginians live and secure permanent public river access. | $22,560,000 | ||
| Assamoosic Pinelands State Forest Southampton County, VA This 1,800-acre project will establish a new Assamoosic Pinelands State Forest in southeast Virginia. The state-recognized Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia will enter into a co-stewardship agreement with the Virginia Department of Forestry and The Nature Conservancy to collaboratively manage the property in the center of the former Nottoway Indian Tribe reservation. The project will reestablish the Tribe’s ancestral practices of land and water stewardship, including the use of fire. | $3,265,000 | ||
| Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve Expansion Floyd and Carroll Counties, VA The project will conserve 3,311 acres of Southern Appalachian Rich Cove Forest and productive white pine, as well as nearly 14 miles of mountain streams at the headwaters of the New River. This acquisition will secure public access near a community in need of outdoor recreation alternatives, alleviate pressure on the existing Preserve resources, and support the tourism economy of surrounding communities. | $9,500,000 | ||
| Camp Shenandoah Augusta County, VA The Camp Shenandoah (CS) project protects 456 acres of predominately forested lands located directly adjacent and securing enhanced public access to VA's largest public Wildlife Management Area (WMA) through a conservation easement. CS was founded in 1950 as a scout camp that has served to instill conservation values into over 100,000 youth participants from all over VA and beyond. CS has been actively managed for conservation since its founding and currently operates under a conservation plan emphasizing public use, healthy forest management, and the education of youth in the fields of conservation and outdoorsmanship. | $1,315,000 | ||
| Cedar Mountain Shenandoah Albemarle County, VA This conservation easement will protect 767 acres of family-owned forestland and complement prior Forest Legacy Program investments, connecting over 5,000 acres of working forestland. The project helps ensure the Appalachian Corridor's protection and enhances critical habitat connectivity and climate resiliency in the region. The project's location in the watershed and upstream of Sugar Hollow Reservoir elevates its importance for both habitat and water resource protection. | $1,305,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cle Elum Ridge Large Landscape Kittitas County, WA This 9,700-acre project is the culmination of 20 years of conservation to expand the adjacent Teanaway Community Forest, connecting the last piece in a corridor of protected lands. Once acquired, the property will be managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources under a community-backed Forest Management Plan for enhancing water supply, expanding recreation, maintaining forestry, and conserving habitat. | $15,300,000 | ||
| Green Mountain West Kitsap County, WA The Green Mountain West project will permanently conserve 360 acres of productive working forestland and important salmon habitat adjacent to federal, state, and local forestland in Kitsap County, Washington. Benefits to the local economy are substantial, providing sustainable forest sector employment and securing year-round access for the 80,000-100,000 visitors annually who currently use the property. | $1,500,000 | ||
| Koblitz Red Mountain Whatcom County, WA This conservation easement will protect 240 acres of working forestland. The Red Mountain Forest is one of two easement acquisition tracts on Red Mountain that will provide a buffer from development pressure while connecting the two properties through a 3,700-acre block of WA Department of Natural Resources managed land. Protecting this working forest will produce a wide range of ecological and watershed benefits, while benefiting the local community. | $580,000 | ||
| Mt. Adams Forest Project Phase 2 Klickitat County, WA The Mt. Adams Forest's Phases 1 and 2 will use conservation easements to protect 6,378 acres of forests surrounding the rural community of Trout Lake, WA and 13,850 acres of forests above the Wild and Scenic White Salmon River. The projects will support one of Washington's last thriving forestry workforces, feeding 3 local mills that alone support 300 jobs, protect drinking water supply for Trout Lake, and secure public recreation access in support of the counties' $275M recreation economy. | $14,000,000 | ||
| Mt. Adams Forest Phase 3 Klickitat County, WA The Mt. Adams Forest Phase 3 will protect 29,778 acres of productive and connected forestland, completing the nearly 48,000-acre Mt. Adams Forest. The conservation easement will hold together a forested landscape with over 40 miles of adjacency to federal, state, and Tribal lands located between the Wild and Scenic White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers. It supports a thriving forestry workforce, feeds 3 local mills, secures public recreation access in support of the county's recreation economy. The project also protects 105 miles of streams including the City of White Salmon's future drinking water source and safeguards critical habitat for federally and state-listed species and culturally important game species. | $36,000,000 | ||
| Sanfi Acres Whatcom County, WA This conservation easement on the Maple Falls Forest will permanently protect 280 acres of working forestlands. The forest is actively managed by Janicki Logging Co. and is adjacent to 3,700 acres of WA Department of Natural Resources managed land. By protecting these working lands, the project will support local jobs, including 3 local mills that employ hundreds of workers, and protect water quality in a critical reach of the Nooksack watershed. The project will secure permanent public recreational access to a cherished part of the Baker Foothills, supporting Whatcom County's $705M recreation economy. | $455,000 | ||
| Stimson Timberland Legacy - Washington Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Spokane Counties, Washington This 87,754-acre conservation easement will invest in the protection of working forests that are key to supporting rural economies, reducing land use conversion, sequestering carbon, and providing critical public access. This project is part of a three state 193,000-acre landscape strategy that presents a rare opportunity to purchase a conservation easement of exceptional size, while allowing Stimson to continue responsible forest management that sustains mills critical to the regions. | $30,000,000 |
| Project Name | May | October | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Border Lakes Vilas County, Town of Land O' Lakes, WI The Border Lakes conservation easement will protect 1,350 acres in the Border Lakes Region of northern Wisconsin. The region supports an unusually diverse and high-quality accumulation of aquatic natural communities. Within the Ontonagon-Presque Isle River Watershed, the surrounding uplands contain mixed northern hardwood and assemblages of old growth forests, rare bird and plant species, and contribute to surface and groundwater protection. | $600,000 | ||
| Sandy Ridge Forest Central Sands Pines FLA - Town of Quincy, Adams County, WI This conservation easement will conserve 425 acres of working forest in the same landscape that inspired Aldo Leopold's 'A Sand County Almanac'. It will protect productive timberlands and groundwater supplies, connect habitat corridors and conserve a globally rare forest type in an area where forest fragmentation is occurring. Ensuring continued timber production is important to the local, state and regional economy. The property provides important habitat for the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, state-endangered Kirtland's warble, and the Red-headed Woodpecker, a Species of Special Concern in WI. | $1,125,000 | ||
| Stateline Forest Northern Forest FLA - Town of Oma, Iron County, WI This conservation easement will protect 998 acres of forest and surrounding uplands that harbor high quality forest complexes of mixed northern hardwood. The wetlands contribute to surface and groundwater protection and provide important habitat for the American marten, Wisconsin’s only endangered mammal. It will also provide an important connection linking two county-owned forests located in Wisconsin and Michigan, expanding the area of protected lands. | $600,000 | ||
| Upper Wisconsin River Forest Vilas County, Town of Land O' Lakes, WI The 191-acre Upper Wisconsin River Forest conservation easement is situated in the Headwaters Area of Wisconsin with the Wisconsin River being the largest waterway that winds itself through vast areas of scenic forests and eventually empties into the Mississippi River. It contains some of the state’s most scenic and important forest complexes containing rare birds and plant species and will add strategic protection to an existing 1,042-acre state funded conservation easement. | $145,000 |