Forest Legacy Program

 

To effectively identify and protect environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to nonforest uses, through the use of conservation easements or fee simple purchase. The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a voluntary private land conservation partnership between the Forest Service, participating States, land trusts, private landowners, and others. The Program works with State partners and operates on a willing seller and willing buyer basis and is completely nonregulatory in its approach. No eminent domain authority or adverse condemnation is authorized for this Program.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.676
Federal Agency/Office
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-313 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 2103c
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Projects are evaluated and prioritized by State lead agencies, in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees. All States and territories participate except North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State agency, landowners of private forest lands, and land trust organizations.
Credentials/Documentation
Each State must prepare a State Forest Action Plan (Statewide Assessment and Resource Strategy, including Assessments of Need(AON)) in order to be eligible for program funds. The FS Regional or Institute Responsible Official must concur with the State's Forest Action Plan. Requirements for an eligible project are: (1) within an approved Forest Legacy Area and fits within the priorities of a State's AON; (2) complies with FLP State and National criteria; (3) a completed grant application; (4) an approved Forest Stewardship Plan or a multi-resource management plan, if applicable; (5) negotiated terms of a conservation easement, if applicable; (6) an approved appraisal, meeting Federal acquisition appraisal standards as outlined in the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and, (7) adequate non-Federal cost share.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is required, including negotiation of terms for the conservation easement or acquisition. Applicants should proceed with initial appraisal and Forest Stewardship Plan development, as due diligence is one of several key factors in project evaluation and ranking.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Individual participating States have application duties and procedures.
Award Procedure
The Forest Service conducts an annual project selection process to arrive at a prioritized national project list. The Forest Service then issues grants to states based on the amounts provided in Congressional appropriations of funds and the prioritized national project list.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
An annual project selection calendar with due dates will be developed each fiscal year, and will identify deadlines and approval times.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Project evaluation and priority ranking is based on the three national core criteria (importance, threatened, and strategy, as defined in the 2017 FLP Implementation Guidelines) as well as project readiness and other evaluation considerations developed in consultation with States and FS Units.
How may assistance be used?
Landowner participation in the program is voluntary and consists of two components: (1) conveying land or interests in land to achieve land conservation objectives and (2) preparing and periodically updating a Forest Stewardship Management Plan or a multi-resource management plan, when the participation is through conservation easement. State lead agencies must first evaluate and approve projects as Forest Legacy eligible before competing for Forest Service funding.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: The Forest Service program manager shall conduct monitoring activities to track program accomplishments.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
State Lead Agencies are required to retain complete grant files on each grant issued. States must report annual accomplishments data in the Forest Legacy Information System.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing. Matching Requirements: Percent: Other Federal Contribution cannot exceed 75 percent of total project costs, and at least a 25 percent non-Federal cost share is required. The non-Federal cost share may consist of: funds, donations, land or interests in land, in-kind contributions, direct costs, indirect costs, and others as determined by the Forest Service. Funds will be provided to the States on a per-project basis, as determined by the annual appropriations. The non-Federal cost share can occur at any phase of the project within the legal grant period, including planning, developing future projects, acquisition, or administrative activities. Matching requirements can be waived at the discretion of the Secretary. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is provided via grants to States. Typical grant period is two years. Grants may receive a no cost extension up to five years with justification if approved by the Forest Service. Payments made based on authorization and negotiation of provisions with cooperator.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Office. Refer to the web site below for Regional State and Private Forestry offices of the Forest Service and for addresses and telephone numbers of Program contacts: : https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy
Headquarters Office
Scott Stewart
1400 Independence Ave SW, MS 1123
Washington, DC 20850 US
scott.stewart@usda.gov
Phone: 2022051618

Claire Harper
1400 Independence Ave
Washington, DC 20250 USA
claire.harper@usda.gov
Phone: 303-895-6157
Website Address
https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-5367-0-1-302
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$85,706,655.00; FY 23 FY 24 - Program Administrative Grants will also be offered
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Forest Legacy Program Implementation Guidelines of 2017
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 



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