Statement from Trust for Public Land on the USDA’s Announcement of a $154 Million in Funding for 26 Projects by the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program 

Washington D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] announced that the U.S. Forest Service is partnering with States to conserve nearly 168,000 acres of economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation as part of Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda.  

The U.S. Forest Service is providing more than $154 million through its Forest Legacy Program for 26 projects to conserve working forests that support rural economies in 17 states. Today’s announcement includes conservation projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Statement from Myke Bybee, Senior Director of Federal Relations:

“Trust for Public Land applauds today’s announcement from the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which has awarded over $154 million for 26 private forestland conservation projects. The Forest Legacy Program provides funding to private forest owners to conserve natural and recreational resources, preventing the conversion or development of threatened forest land.  

Trust for Public Land has worked for decades to support local community partners, landowners, and the Forest Legacy Program. We are excited that one of our projects was included in today’s announcement. The 327-acre Moose River project in Concord, Vermont, will protect 1.7 miles of frontage on the Moose River, enhancing flood resilience and offering permanent public access to whitewater paddling, hunting, fishing, and hiking.  

The Forest Legacy Program provides funding to protect working forests through voluntary conservation easements, where landowners are compensated for relinquishing future development rights on their property, or through direct acquisition of parcels to be converted into public land. The single greatest threat to private forests – including their wildlife habitat, water quality, recreational access, and climate change benefits – is development or conversion to non-forested uses.

The Forest Legacy Program leverages state and private funding to scale up program impact and create long-lasting partnerships. The project awards announced today represent years of work to develop community-led conservation strategies that support local economies and healthy forests.” 

### 

About Trust for Public Land   

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.