WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a continued effort to preserve America’s forested landscapes while promoting economic development in rural communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $106 million investment to conserve privately owned working forests across the country. The funding, administered through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, will support 10 projects spanning 177,000 acres across Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, and South Carolina.
The initiative, unveiled by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, is part of a broader federal strategy to expand timber production and outdoor recreation opportunities, while safeguarding ecosystems vital to clean water, wildlife habitat, and local economies. It aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order on Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production.
“Just like our farms and ranches, working forests are part of the backbone of rural America—providing jobs, timber, clean water, and places for families to hunt, fish, camp, hike and make lifelong memories,” said Secretary Rollins. “For too long our forests have been left idle, only to burn and devastate communities. President Trump has made it a priority to properly manage our forests, empowering USDA and our state partners to protect and unleash the full potential of their forestlands to help their communities grow and thrive.”
Privately owned forests make up roughly 60% of the nation’s 704 million acres of forestland and supply nearly 90% of all domestic timber. These lands are also central to community identity and economic resilience in rural areas, supporting not only forestry jobs but also recreation-based tourism and ecosystem services such as water filtration and carbon sequestration.
The Forest Legacy Program, authorized under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, facilitates conservation through voluntary partnerships with landowners and state governments. Selected projects use conservation easements or direct land acquisitions to ensure long-term protection of forests while maintaining compatible uses such as sustainable timber harvesting and public recreation.
Projects funded through this round were selected via competitive state and national review processes, with a focus on lands that contribute to economic vitality, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Once conserved, the forests will either remain in private hands with strict development restrictions or transition into public ownership, managed by state or local agencies.
The $106 million allocation represents a continuation of the USDA’s expanding efforts to manage forests not only as environmental assets but as working landscapes vital to the economic and social wellbeing of American communities.
To date, the Forest Legacy Program has protected over 3.1 million acres nationwide, underscoring the program’s role in ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from the nation’s rich and productive forest heritage.
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