The Virginia Department of Forestry’s (DOF) Forest Legacy Program (FLP) partners with the USDA Forest Service to protect important forestlands under threat of conversion that then provide a sustainable forest resource for generations. Annually, the USDA Forest Service offers competitive federal funding and DOF in turn issues a corresponding request for project proposals that are reviewed by the state Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee to advise which would contend at the national level amongst all states for the competitive federal funds available.
FLP-awarded federal funds help facilitate the purchase of conservation easements or fee simple acquisitions from a willing landowner. The FLP is geared towards large, landscape-scale projects that either involve a single landowner with significant landholdings or involve multiple tracts with different landowners that do not necessarily need to be contiguous but must have an overarching connection. Due to their sheer size and the rhythm of the federal funding, FLP projects have a multi-year timeline for completion.
One of the primary tenets of the FLP is to ensure the conservation of working forests to provide a multitude of benefits to Virginians including sustainable forest resources, clean water and air, forested scenic views, as well as protection of sensitive sites and essential habitat for threatened and endangered species. Providing strong economic incentives to landowners to keep their existing forestland through purchase of conservation easements helps facilitate 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 25 year history in Virginia, through December 2023, FLP federal funding awarded supported the conservation of approximately 30,000 acres of forestland.
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 of conversion, presence of natural heritage resources, production of forest products, and watershed resources. To be eligible for the FLP, land must be located wholly or partially within the designated Forest Legacy Area for the state. A map of the current Forest Legacy Area is found above; if eligibility cannot be determined, contact us to determine if the tract falls within the Forest Legacy Area.
FLP projects pursue competitive federal funding to cover up to 75% of the appraised value for the purchase of a conservation easement or fee interest, with the required 25% matching funds coming from private (landowner), state or local sources. Landowners may benefit from additional tax benefits if they choose to donate the required matching funds by accepting what is called a bargain sale of the conservation interest. FLP projects require that a forest stewardship management plan be developed or updated for the conservation tract.
Landowner Application and Deadlines
Interested landowners must prepare an FLP application and choose a Project Advocate to help develop the required FLP proposal which is often a non-profit land trust or other private land conservation organization or entity. These organizations have staff, resources and expertise that allow for GIS map making and conservation value identification. Due to the competitive nature of the grant funding program, landowners or Project Advocates are advised to contact DOF early 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 specific deadlines and application requirements, refer to the most recent Forest Legacy Program Request for Proposals documents in the Additional Resources below or e-mail us.
Additional Resources
| Image | Title | ID | Description | Content Type | View | hf:tax:document-category | hf:tax:Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | An Overview of Forest Carbon Credit Programs in Virginia | VT-CNRE-177P | Woodland owners increasingly hear about opportunities to earn income by participating in emerging forest carbon markets. This Virginia Cooperative Extension publication provides an overview of these markets and introduces the carbon credit programs operating in Virginia. This information is intended to help Virginia’s woodland owners decide if taking part in a forest carbon credit program is a good fit for their management objectives. | Publication | View | forest-management forest | publication |
 | Forest Legacy Program | P00200 | 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. | Publication | View | forest | publication |
 | Forest Legacy Program Application – Conservation Easement | 10.04 | Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via conservation easement. | Form | View | forest | form |
| Forest Legacy Program Application – Fee Simple Purchase | 10.05 | Application to apply to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program via fee simple purchase. | Form | View | forest | form |
| Forest Legacy Program Application – Property Proposal | 10.06 | Application Property Proposal is to be submitted as a part of the submission package when applying to be considered for the Forest Legacy Program. | Form | View | forest | form |
| Forest Legacy Program Application – Property Proposal – Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Supplement | 10.07 | 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. | Form | View | forest | form |
 | 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. | Document | View | forest | document | |
 | Legacy Planning Stories | Stories about how landowners “like me” are ensuring the future of their land. | Publication | View | forest | publication | |
 | Legacy Planning… A Guide for Virginia Landowners | CNRE-121 | A comprehensive guide to successful legacy planning for your forestland. | Publication | View | forest | publication |
| Local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program Matching Funds Claim for Reimbursement | 10.08 | Used to request reimbursement for local PDR programs upon the recordation of a deed evidencing the purchase of an agricultural conservation easement. | Form | View | forest | form |
 | Woodland Owner Legacy Planning Benefits and Barriers | Summary report of research about the benefits and barriers for landowners in keeping their forestland in tact. | Publication | View | forest | publication | |
 | Woodland Owners: The Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Rule May Apply to YOU! | In September 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Rule under the Corporate Transparency Act. This rule requires disclosing the identity of beneficial owners of small business entities beginning on January 1, 2024. | Document | View | forest-management forest | document |
Contact Us
For more information or questions, e-mail us or use our contact form.