Forest Legacy Program
The Forest Legacy Program was established in the 1990 Farm Bill to protect environmentally important forest lands that are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses. It provides Federal funding for conservation easements and fee simple purchases.
Program Purpose
To ascertain and protect environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses
Development of the nation's forested areas poses an increasing threat to maintaining the integrity of our country's valuable forest lands. Intact forest lands supply timber products, wildlife habitat, soil and watershed protection, aesthetics, and recreational opportunities. However, as these areas are fragmented and disappear, so do the benefits they provide. While local governments commonly guide development away from the most sensitive areas through traditional land use controls (like zoning and performance standards), sometimes these measures are not sufficient to fully protect the forested component of our natural resource base.
The Forest Legacy Program (FLP), a federal program in partnership with states, supports state efforts to protect environmentally sensitive forest lands. Designed to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands, FLP is an entirely voluntary program. To maximize the public benefits it achieves, the program focuses on the acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forest lands. FLP helps the states develop and carry out their forest conservation plans. It encourages and supports acquisition of conservation easements, legally binding agreements transferring a negotiated set of property rights from one party to another, without removing the property from private ownership. Most FLP conservation easements restrict development, require sustainable forestry practices, and protect other values.
Program Description
The Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between participating States and the USDA Forest Service to identify and protect environmentally important forest land that is threatened by conversion to nonforest uses.
Conservation easements are the primary tool used to achieve this goal. Priority is given to lands that have important scenic or recreational values; riparian areas; fish and wildlife values, including threatened and endangered species; or other ecological values.
Program Characteristics
The program helps States and regions identify important forest areas.
When conservation easements are used, the land remains privately owned.
Other tools include full-fee purchase, voluntary deed restrictions, covenants, and agreements.
The program is based on a “willing seller and willing buyer” concept.
State and local partners select priority tracts in cooperation with the Forest Service.
The interests in land may be held by the Federal government, or by the State or a unit of local government if the State chooses to select the State Grant Option as authorized by the 1996 Farm Bill.
When the Federal government holds the easement, State or local units of government agree to administer the lands or interests in lands.
The lands and interests are held in perpetuity. There is no loss of the Federal investment resulting from change of ownership.
Forest Stewardship Plans that meet the landowner’s objectives for natural resource management are prepared on all privately owned tracts.
The tracts acquired can remain “working forests” and can forever provide forest resources to meet the needs of the local community and the Nation
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Program Activities
Forest Legacy complements private, federal and state programs focusing on conservation in two ways. First, FLP directly supports property acquisition. Additionally, FLP supports efforts to acquire donated conservation easements. FLP funded acquisitions serve public purposes identified by participating states and agreed to by the landowner.
On May 18, 2009 US Forest Service chief announced land grants to protect more than 5,000 acres of forest in northern Vermont. The land is going to be conserved with the help of a $1.8 million under the Eden Forest project. [1]
Eligibility
Participation in Forest Legacy is limited to private forest landowners. To qualify, landowners are required to prepare a multiple resource management plan as part of the conservation easement acquisition. The federal government may fund up to 75% of program costs, with at least 25% coming from private, state or local sources. In addition to gains associated with the sale or donation of property rights, many landowners also benefit from reduced taxes associated with limits placed on land use.
Program Administration
The USDA Forest Service administers the Forest Legacy Program in cooperation with State Foresters. The state grant option allows states a greater role in implementing the program. FLP also encourages partnerships with local governments and land trusts, recognizing the important contributions landowners, communities and private organizations make to conservation efforts.