Forest Legacy Program

Forest Legacy ProgramThe federal government established the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) at the USDA Forest Service with the intent to partner with state agencies to protect important forestlands under threat of conversion to other uses. The FLP program uses federal grant funding to support state efforts to identify and protect important private forest tracts threatened by conversion to non-forest uses.

FLP federal funding facilitates the fee simple purchase of land or the encumbrance of conservation easements to protect forestlands that provide public benefits, including sustainable forest resources, clean water and air, wildlife habitat, and forested scenic views, as well as protect sensitive sites and essential habitat for threatened and endangered species.

If you are interested in the Forest Legacy Program, read the information below in detail, and if you’d like to apply, e-mail the Forestland Conservation Program.  

Learn more about how the Virginia Department of Forestry works to conserve forests.

Forest Legacy Program in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is the state lead agency responsible for managing the program which pursues federal grant funds for the conservation of important forestlands in the Commonwealth. The program continues to be an important part of Virginia’s forested land conservation efforts.

One of the primary tenets of the FLP in Virginia is to ensure the conservation of working forests to provide a multitude of benefits to Virginians. These working forests protect water quality and provide wildlife habitat, forest products, opportunities for recreation and other public benefits. Providing economic incentives to landowners to keep their existing forestland facilitates sustainable forest management and supports strong markets for forest products. Loss of forested areas poses an increasing threat to the integrity of Virginia’s natural resources. As these areas are fragmented and disappear, so do the benefits they provide.

During the program’s first 24 years in Virginia, through December 2023, FLP funding supported the conservation of 35 tracts totaling 29,151 acres.

Eligibility and Potential Award Benefits

To most effectively utilize limited resources, the FLP focuses on priority areas in the state that meet program eligibility criteria and possess the highest conservation value. Such criteria include the threat to conversion, presence of natural heritage resources, production of forest products, and watershed resources. To be eligible for the FLP, land must be located within the Forest Legacy Area for Virginia.

The FLP pays up to 75% of the appraised value for conservation easement or fee interest tracts, with the required matching funds coming from private, state, or local sources. Landowners may benefit from reduced taxes if they choose to donate the required matching funds for the program by accepting what is called a bargain sale. For lands being offered for a conservation easement, a multiple-resource forest management plan must be developed or updated prior to award payout.

To Apply

Landowner Application and Deadlines

Landowners interested in the Forestry Legacy Program must prepare an application for the program and also choose a Project Advocate to research the property’s conservation attributes, prepare a proposal and a GIS-quality map, and possibly combine several properties together in an effort to increase the scope and competitiveness of the application.

The Project Advocate is typically a land trust or other private land conservation organization, but may also be the land conservation staff of a governmental entity or any other interested organization. These organizational entities have staff and resources that allow for improved GIS map making and conservation value identification, both necessary in the competitive state and national application review process. Project Advocates also utilize the collective knowledge and experience of Virginia’s robust land conservation organizations and agencies.

There are two funding sources for the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program…the annual funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) allocated by the U.S. Congress and additional funding that has been made available through the 2022 U.S. Congressional passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As a result, there are now three separate application cycles per year for funding: spring (IRA), summer (LWCF) and fall (IRA).

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

Application Review and Ranking

Project proposals received during each grant application cycle are reviewed and ranked by the state’s Forest Stewardship Committee and presented to the State Forester for nomination of top Virginia proposals for submission to compete for federal funding during the national ranking process.

A panel of FLP personnel from across the nation determine the national project rankings, which are then considered by the President and by Congress during federal budget deliberations. Highly-ranked state proposals then receive federal funding (or partial funding) in the Appropriations Act.


Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Forest Legacy Program
Forest Legacy ProgramP00200

Brochure provides information regarding the Forest Legacy Program available to landowners for conserving their forestland, including program overview, public purposes, methods of acquisition, application process, and program requirements. Printed copies available.

Viewforestland-conservationpublication
Forest Legacy Program Application - Conservation Easement
Forest Legacy Program Application – Conservation Easement10.04

Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via conservation easement.

Viewforestland-conservationform
Forest Legacy Program Application - Fee Simple Purchase
Forest Legacy Program Application – Fee Simple Purchase10.05

Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via fee simple purchase.

Viewforestland-conservationform
Forest Legacy Program Application - Property Proposal
Forest Legacy Program Application – Property Proposal10.06

Application Property Proposal is to be submitted as a part of the submission package when applying to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program.

Viewforestland-conservationform
Forest Legacy Program Application - Property Proposal - Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Supplement
Forest Legacy Program Application – Property Proposal – Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Supplement10.07

Application Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Supplement is to be submitted as a part of the submission package when applying to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program during IRA funding application cycles.

Viewforestland-conservationform
Forest Legacy Program Request for Proposals
Forest Legacy Program Request for Proposals

The Forest Legacy Program assists in protecting important forested lands through conservation easements and fee simple land purchases. Conservation easements allow private individuals to retain ownership while conserving forested lands to protect forested lands, in perpetuity, for future generations. Applications are accepted via requests for proposals.

Viewforestland-conservationdocument
Legacy Planning Stories
Legacy Planning Stories

Stories about how landowners “like me” are ensuring the future of their land.

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Legacy Planning… A Guide for Virginia Landowners
Legacy Planning… A Guide for Virginia LandownersCNRE-121

A comprehensive guide to successful legacy planning for your forestland.

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Woodland Owner Legacy Planning Benefits and Barriers
Woodland Owner Legacy Planning Benefits and Barriers

Summary report of research about the benefits and barriers for landowners in keeping their forestland in tact.

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