Virginia Department
of Forestry

Each year, the USDA Forest Service opens a competitive grant round and DOF initiates a statewide request for project proposals. Those proposals are reviewed by the members of the state Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee, who recommend to DOF the strongest applications to advance for national competition.

FLP-awarded funds contribute to the purchase of conservation easements or fee simple acquisitions from a willing landowner. Typically, funded FLP projects are larger properties with a single landowner, but projects with multiple parcels under different ownership are also eligible. FLP projects have state and federal requirements and review procedures that can involve a multi-year timeline for completion.

FLP focuses on priority areas identified on Virginia’s Forest Legacy Area of Interest map. To be eligible for the FLP, the land must be located wholly or partially within the designated Forest Legacy Area of Interest for the state. If eligibility is unclear, contact us to determine if the tract falls within the Forest Legacy Area.

FLP funding covers up to 75% of the appraised value for the purchase of a conservation easement or fee simple acquisitions. The required 25% matching contribution can be from private (landowner) or public sources. Landowners may benefit from additional tax benefits if they donate the required matching funds by agreeing to a bargain sale of the real estate interest. FLP projects require that a Forest Stewardship Management Plan be developed or updated for the conservation tract.

Interested landowners must choose a Project Advocate to help develop the required FLP proposal. Project Advocates are often staff members of a non-profit land trust or other private land conservation organization or entity. These organizations have the resources and expertise to identify relevant conservation values and prepare the required mapping. Due to the competitive nature of the grant funding program, landowners or Project Advocates are advised to contact DOF staff to request preliminary project feedback while contemplating a proposal. Providing project information that speaks to the scale, conservation impact and rationale of the project’s relevance to the FLP will aid in the preliminary DOF feedback offered.

For application requirements, refer to the most recent Forest Legacy Program Request for Proposals documents in the Additional Resources below or e-mail us.