Montana's Forest Legacy Program funds permanent conservation of high-value working forests, mainly through conservation easements, via nationally competitive USDA Forest Service grants managed by FWP. FWP solicits forest conservation proposals each April with a June deadline; proposals go through state and national ranking. Priorities (2020 Assessment of Need) are wildlife habitat, drinking water and forest productivity.
Eligibility
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Working forest landowners in Montana (2024 Landowner Guide: 'FWP offers conservation easements to retain forest habitats in parts of western and west-central Montana.').
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'These perpetual agreements are only eligible on lands that are at least 75 percent forestland, operate in a sustainable forest management system, and provide a negotiated level of public recreation access.' (2024 guide)
Terms
Perpetual conservation easements (some fee-title acquisitions become FWP WMAs); funded from offshore oil and gas lease earnings via the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Published amounts: Nationally competitive grants; no per-project amounts published.
Application Instructions
Respond to FWP's April solicitation by the June deadline; reference the Montana Forest Legacy Assessment of Need when assembling an application.
Deadline text on the page: 'FWP conducts annual solicitations for forest conservation proposals in April with a June submission deadline.' 'Successful projects are awarded funding approximately 2 years after the original proposal solicitation.'
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Updated September 25, 2026
Image Credit: James St. John
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