Arkansas Forest Legacy Program

Arkansas's Forest Legacy Program uses U.S. Forest Service money to buy conservation easements (or fee title) on privately owned forest threatened with conversion. With an easement the owner keeps managing and harvesting timber. The state ranks landowner applications and submits the best to compete nationally; federal funds cover up to 75%, and the seller must line up the 25% match. Arkansas favors fee-simple purchases.

• Willing seller of a conservation easement or fee simple title

• Tract lies within Arkansas Forest Legacy Areas

• Environmentally important forest threatened by present or future conversion to non-forest uses

• Priority of the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee and the Forestry Division

• Seller must secure 25% cost share

Up to 75% federal share at no more than appraised fair market value (federal appraisal standards); a forest management agreement is required if timber rights are retained under an easement; the state holds the easement or land.

Published amounts: Federal funding for up to 75 percent of the cost of conservation easements or fee acquisition; the seller must secure 25% cost share (donated easement value can count). Page gives two different project caps: '$30 million in total cost or $20 million for individual projects' (up to 5 proposals) and later '$20 million in total cost or $7 million for individual projects' (maximum of 3 proposals).

Decide on fee-simple title or conservation easement, complete the Forest Legacy Application Form and mail or email it to the Forest Legacy Coordinator by January 2, then obtain an FLP Qualified Appraisal and the 25% cost share with the coordinator's help.

Deadline text on the page: FLP landowner application submission deadline January 2 (annual cycle: SFSCC prioritizes in June, ADA submits to USFS in September, awards ~2 years later).