Colorado Forest Legacy Grant Program

The Colorado Forest Legacy Grant Program, administered by the Colorado State Forest Service, aims to protect vital private forest areas from conversion to non-forest uses. By focusing on conservation easements, the program promotes sustainable forestry practices and preserves significant ecological habitats. It encourages public and private partnerships to maintain forest integrity while allowing landowners to retain ownership. Priorities include reducing land fragmentation and safeguarding water quality, wildlife habitats, and unique ecological zones.

NOTE: The FLP accepts projects on a rolling basis, with the goal of making each project as competitive as possible. For each year, there will be a cut-off date for funding; after this date, eligible projects will be considered for funding the following year.  Deadline above is the cut-off date for fiscal year fiscal year 2028. If you’re interested in the program, contact the program manager.
Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS)
The Colorado State Forest Service helps community groups, nonprofits and others secure grants and assistance for projects that promote healthy forests and wildfire mitigation in Colorado. Projects that benefit only one landowner do not qualify for these state-funded grant programs.
Forest Legacy Program (FLP)
The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a federally funded and state-administered program that supports efforts to protect private forest lands that are environmentally, economically and socially critical. The program helps prevent fragmentation of our forests and preserves natural vistas for all to enjoy.
The Colorado Forest Legacy Program is a partnership between Colorado and the USDA Forest Service to identify and help conserve environmentally important forests from conversion to non-forest uses.
To maximize the public benefits it achieves, the program focuses on the acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forest lands (conservation easements).
It encourages and supports acquisition of conservation easements (legally binding agreements that transfer a negotiated set of property rights from one party to another) without removing the property from private ownership. Most FLP conservation easements restrict development, require sustainable forestry practices and protect other values.
It is recognized that Colorado has an extensive network of well-qualified land trusts and other non-governmental land conservation organizations. The Colorado Forest Legacy Program intends to support the efforts of this existing land conservation community. Since the CSFS is the lead agency for the Colorado Forest Legacy Program, all easements secured with the help of Forest Legacy funds will be held by the State of Colorado. The CSFS believes the program offers an important opportunity for land conservation groups to access federal funding to protect valuable private forestlands.
Purpose
The purpose of the Forest Legacy Program is to protect environmentally important private forest areas that are
threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. Specifically, the FLP in Colorado will emphasize:

• Reduction of forested land fragmentation as a result of development pressures, subdivision, and

increasing housing density. Protection of water quality and production amounts.
Protection of significant wildlife habitat.
Protection of economically significant timber forest products through positive forest
stewardship programs. Protection of significant riparian communities.
Maintaining continuity of forested lands adjacent to protected lands.
Protection of unique ecological areas.
Reduction of risk and occurrence of wildfires especially in developed areas or ecologically
sensitive areas. Protection of private property owner’s rights.
Protection of lifestyle for property owners.

Eligibility

The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) authorizes the USDA Forest Service or state governments to purchase permanent
conservation easements on private forest lands to prevent those lands from being converted to non-forest uses.The program provides an opportunity for private landowners to retain ownership and management of their land, while receiving compensation for unrealized development rights.Those landowners
who choose to participate in the program are required to follow a stewardship plan designed for their forest. Activities consistent with the management plan, including timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation activities, are
permitted. The Federal government may fund up to 75 percent of program costs, with at least 25 percent coming from private, state or local sources.

Ineligibility

Applications for lands held in public ownership do not qualify under the Forest Legacy Program.