Maryland Forest Legacy Program Grant

The Maryland Forest Legacy Program aims to protect vital forest areas from conversion to non-forest uses through conservation easements. This federal initiative collaborates with state efforts to identify and preserve environmentally significant forests, with funding support where the federal government covers up to 75% of costs. Eligible areas must be designated Forest Legacy Areas, ensuring that at least 75% of the land remains forested. This program not only benefits wildlife but also supports local economies and water quality.

Purpose
The Forest Legacy Program is a Federal program that works in partnership with States, supporting efforts to protect environmentally sensitive forest from conversion to non-forest uses.
Description
The program is designed to identify and protect environmentally important forests through the use of perpetual conservation easements purchased at market value between willing sellers and willing buyers.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and an eligible organization that restricts future activities on the land to protect its conservation values.Up to 75% of the funding can be supplied by the Federal Government; at least 25% of funding will come from, State, Local, NGO funds or can be donated by the landowner.
Scope
The program is available only in areas identified as Forest Legacy Areas in Maryland’s Forest Legacy Program Assessment of Need. Forest Legacy Areas are geographically defined areas that were determined to have some of the highest economic and environmental values to benefit Maryland’s wildlife, wood products industry, water quality, and residents.
How Does Forest Legacy Work?
Only private forest within a Forest Legacy Area is eligible for the program. At least 75% of the area put under easement must be forested. The remaining 25% must be in a compatible land use such as agriculture.
Landowners who are willing to sell their development rights are encouraged to apply. All applications will be evaluated and ranked on an annual basis, and the highest ranked applications will be entered into the national ranking process for funding.
Projects are ranked on the basis of forest importance, threat of development, and strategic value to other protected lands or conservation initiatives. Funded projects will enter the negotiation and acquisition phase.
If negotiations produce acceptable easement terms, the easement will be purchased. If the project does not receive federal funding or negotiations do not produce acceptable terms, landowners may apply again in future years. The number of parcels accepted for acquisition will depend on the funding available and the estimated value of the parcels selected.

Eligibility

Only private forest in a Forest Legacy Area is eligible for the program.At least 75% of the area put under easement/purchased must be forested. The remaining 25% needs to be in a compatible land use such as agriculture.Up to 75% of the funding can be supplied by the Federal Government; at least 25% of funding will come from, State, Local, NGO funds or can be donated by the landowner.