Forest Legacy Program to Conserve Working Forests

The USDA Forest Service is partnering with States to conserve nearly 168,000 acres of economically and ecologically significant forestlands across the nation through the Forest Legacy Program. USDA is providing more than $154 million for 26 projects to conserve working forests that support rural economies in 17 states. Through the Forest Legacy Program, states work with local communities to identify private forestlands and develop proposals to conserve these lands as forests for their values as places for recreation, as wildlife habitat, and as sustainable sources of wood and other forest products. Nearly 50% of these investments will go to conserving forests near disadvantaged communities identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.