Virginia Forest Legacy Program

Virginia's instance of the federal Forest Legacy Program: DOF solicits landowner proposals each year and advances the strongest to the USDA Forest Service national competition. Awarded funds pay up to 75% of the appraised value to buy a conservation easement (or fee title) on forestland threatened with conversion, with a 25% match from the landowner or other sources. Landowners work with a self-chosen Project Advocate (often a land trust).

• Land must be located wholly or partially within Virginia's designated Forest Legacy Area

• Each tract must be at least 100 acres and at least 75% forested

• Title clear of liens/encumbrances; existing mortgage holders must be willing to subordinate (easement)

• Landowner must be willing to pay a portion (usually 25% at minimum) of the due diligence costs

• A Forest Stewardship Management Plan must be developed or updated for the tract

Up to 75% federal share of appraised value; 25% match required; multi-year state and federal review timeline; national ranking by USDA Forest Service with awards anticipated by late Spring 2027 for the FY2028 cycle.

Published amounts: FLP funding covers up to 75% of the appraised value for the purchase of a conservation easement or fee simple acquisitions. The required 25% matching contribution can be from private (landowner) or public sources. Additional funding may also be awarded to cover up to 75% of the costs required for real estate due diligence activities (title, survey, etc.).

Choose a Project Advocate; submit the FLP Preliminary Project Feedback Form (10.09) to the DOF FLP coordinator first, then the proposal package: Form 10.04 (conservation easement) or 10.05 (fee simple sale), Form 10.06 project proposal, and GIS-quality maps, per the current DOF Forest Legacy Request for Proposals.

Deadline text on the page: Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2028 Application Cycle — Deadline for Proposal Package Submission: Thursday, July 9, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. (RFP summary, 05/28/2026). Each year, the USDA Forest Service opens a competitive grant round and DOF initiates a statewide request for project proposals.