Forest Legacy Program (Louisiana)

A voluntary conservation program that protects environmentally sensitive, privately owned Louisiana forest lands threatened by conversion to non-forest use, through land acquisition and conservation easements. Most FLP easements restrict development and require sustainable forestry practices while keeping land in private ownership. TRUE LEAD: USDA Forest Service, in partnership with Louisiana (LDAF Office of Forestry administers locally). Funded by annual Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) appropriations from Congress.

Willing private forest landowners in Louisiana with environmentally sensitive forest lands threatened by conversion to non-forest use.

No award ceiling, payment rate, or landowner cost-share percentage is published for this program. Landowners are not reimbursed for costs here — they are paid for a property interest, at a price negotiated per project, so there is no standard figure to quote.

What the 75% figure actually refers to. LDAF's application states: "The U.S. Forest Service provides up to 75% of the funds through a nationally competitive grant program to the state, and the program is managed locally by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF)." That 75% is the federal share of the state's project cost (the remaining 25% comes from non-federal sources), not a cost-share offered to the landowner. Do not read it as "you pay 25%."

How a landowner is compensated. Two routes, both voluntary: "Landowners may either sell (or donate) their property outright or choose to conserve the property through the use of a conservation easement" (USDA Forest Service). Under an easement, "the landowner retains ownership of the property and sells a portion of the property's development rights, which allows the landowner to continue to use and manage the property in accordance with an approved forest management plan." LDAF "collaborates with private landowners to acquire perpetual conservation easements" and "also purchases and accepts donations of forestland in full fee."

Term: permanent, not a number of years. "All easements and interests in land acquired through the program are conveyed in perpetuity and must contain such covenants and language to ensure perpetuity of FLP easements." This is the single most consequential term — the restriction runs with the land forever and binds future owners.

Ongoing obligations. "Most FLP conservation easements restrict development and require sustainable forestry practices," managed under an approved forest management plan.

Voluntariness and gating. "Participation is strictly voluntary" and "The FLP only works with willing sellers or donors." Only property inside a designated Louisiana Forest Legacy Area qualifies (Northwest: Caddo, Bossier, Webster; Central: Vernon, Rapides, Grant; Southeast: West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Tammany, Livingston, Baton Rouge, Ascension). Funding depends on annual Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations, and projects compete in a national ranking, so no landowner is guaranteed funding in a given year. Note that only the designated state lead agency may receive FLP grants from the Forest Service.

Submit the Louisiana Forest Legacy Program Project Application to the LDAF Office of Forestry. Recurring annual cycle; most recently documented application deadline was May 30, 2026.