FLP Application Package
Northeast Area Federal Forest Legacy Website
|
|
FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM
Traditionally, privately owned forest lands have provided many uses, and values including wood products, wildlife habitat, and educational, scientific, and recreational opportunities, to name but a few. These traditional uses of private forest land have declined at an alarming rate mainly due to 1) the conversion of forested tracts to non-forest uses such as for residential, commercial, or industrial development, 2) declining management of privately held forests, and 3) forest fragmentation (the breaking up of large forests into smaller tracts). Forest fragmentation increases the likelihood of development of the smaller parcels and decreases the likelihood of forest management.
To help maintain the integrity and traditional uses of our forests, Congress created the Forest Legacy
Program, which provides grants to the State of Rhode Island through the USDA Forest Service, to acquire land or interests in land from willing sellers. The fair market value of interests acquired are determined by standardized federal appraisal methods. Acquisitions are based on the concept of "willing seller, willing buyer". There is no condemnation of land involved.
What property is eligible?
- Forested land which lies partly or wholly within one of the State’s designated Forest Legacy Areas and which can provide significant forest resources and values.
- Property within Indian reservations and tribal lands.
- The proposed easement area must be 25 acres or more in size, and contain no more than 10% non-forest land. The size requirement may be waived in exceptional circumstances.
- Federal, State, or Municipal lands are not eligible for the program.
What conditions will the property be subject to?
- Restrictions in the form of a conservation easement will be placed on the deed reflecting the interests sold. At a minimum, language limiting/extinguishing future development of the property will be included. Other interests, such as public access, will be negotiated.
- Use of that portion of the property under easement will be subject to a written forest management plan approved by the D.E.M.’s Division of Forest Environment. Such plans identify landowner objectives and describe actions the landowner should take to protect and manage the soil, water, and timber resources, aesthetic quality, recreational opportunities, unique communities/plant assemblages, and fish and wildlife habitat, and can be amended from time to time as environmental conditions and landowner goals change (amendments subject to D.E.M. approval). The property owner is responsible for the costs incurred to develop or update the management plan, which must be done at least once every ten years.
- Interests are acquired in perpetuity and are binding upon subsequent property owners.
Priority is given to forest land that exhibits exceptional resource values, that has been shown to be threatened with conversion to non-forest use, and that may be available at below fair market value. Applications are accepted year-round and are prioritized by the state’s Forest Legacy Committee. Annually, only the top one or two projects are forwarded to the Forest Service for funding consideration. All funding is subject to Congressional discretion.
If you are interested in more information about this program, please contact:
Paul Ricard, Rhode Island Forest Legacy Program Coordinator at (401) 647-3367.
|
