Washington Forest Legacy Program

Federal Forest Service grant funds, run in Washington by DNR, buy conservation easements that remove development rights from working forests at risk of conversion, so owners can keep managing them for forestry. Landowners apply through DNR each year; projects must sit inside a state Forest Legacy Priority Area and are scored by the state committee and a national panel.

• Forestland located within a Washington Forest Legacy Priority Area

• Landowner willing to accept the mandatory clauses in the state conservation easement or deed template before applying

• Only a unit of government may hold the interest acquired with Forest Legacy funds

Permanent conservation easement (or fee acquisition) held by a unit of government; landowner continues long-term forestry.

Published amounts: Federal grant funds pay for conservation easements that remove the development rights from forestland; fee acquisitions also allowed. No dollar range published.

Submit the annual Forest Legacy Application to DNR's Forest Legacy Program; projects are scored using the FY28 Forest Legacy Project Scoring Guidance.

Deadline text on the page: 2028 Forest Legacy Application for projects to be funded in federal fiscal year 2028 (beginning March 30, 2026) will be accepted through June 5, 2026.