The Forest Legacy Program is a federal conservation easement program administered in partnership with states. In Maryland, MFS coordinates the program. Nine easements covering 2,014 acres have been completed to date.

For information on other landowner assistance programs, visit the Forest Stewardship page.

What the Program Does

Forest Legacy protects privately owned forestland from conversion to non-forest uses through the purchase of perpetual conservation easements. A conservation easement is a legally recorded agreement that restricts specified future uses of the land while leaving ownership with the landowner.

Easements are purchased at market value. The federal government provides up to 75% of the purchase price. The remaining 25% comes from state, local, or nonprofit sources, or may be donated by the landowner as a bargain sale.

Eligibility

The program is available only within designated Forest Legacy Areas — geographically defined areas identified in Maryland's Forest Legacy Program Assessment of Need as having high economic and environmental value for wildlife habitat, water quality, wood products, and public benefit.

Only private forestland within a Forest Legacy Area is eligible. At least 75% of the area placed under easement must be forested; the remaining 25% must be in a compatible use such as agriculture.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Forest Legacy is a willing-seller, willing-buyer program. Landowners interested in selling development rights submit an application, which is evaluated and ranked annually. Rankings are based on forest importance, threat of conversion, and strategic value relative to other protected lands or conservation initiatives.

Highly ranked applications enter a national competitive funding process. Projects selected for funding proceed to easement negotiation and acquisition. If a project does not receive federal funding in a given year, or if negotiations do not produce acceptable terms, the landowner may reapply in future years. The number of parcels acquired each year depends on available funding and appraised easement values.

Apply

Forest Legacy is a willing-seller, willing-buyer program. Landowners who wish to sell development rights on eligible forestland may apply using the form below. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and evaluated annually.

To confirm whether your property falls within a designated Forest Legacy Area before applying, contact the MFS Forest Legacy Program Coordinator:

Daniel L. Root
Maryland Forest Service
580 Taylor Ave., E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
[email protected]
410-260-8530

Download the Landowner Application (PDF)