Inflation Reduction Act - Forest Legacy Program

 

To effectively identify and protect environmentally important forest areas threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, through the use of conservation easements or fee simple purchase. The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) is a voluntary private land conservation partnership between the Forest Service, participating States, land trusts, private landowners, and others. The Program works with State partners and operates on a willing seller and willing buyer basis and is completely nonregulatory in its approach. No eminent domain authority or adverse condemnation is authorized for this Program.

Active 10.734 Forest Service, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Not applicable. Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-313 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 2103c
Public Law 117-169
Subtitle D, Section 23003(a)(1) Projects are evaluated and prioritized by State lead agencies, in consultation with the State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees. All States and territories participate except North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. State Agency, Landowners of Private Forest Lands, and Land Trust Organizations Each State must prepare a State Forest Action Plan (Statewide Assessment and Resource Strategy, including Assessments of Need (AON)) in order to be eligible for program funds. The Forest Service Region or Institute Responsible Official must concur with the State's Forest Action Plan. Requirements for an eligible project are: (1) within an approved Forest Legacy Area and fits within the priorities of a State's AON; (2) complies with FLP State and National criteria; (3) a completed grant application; (4) an approved Forest Stewardship Plan or a multi-resource management plan, if applicable; (5) negotiated terms of a conservation easement, if applicable; (6) an approved appraisal, meeting Federal acquisition appraisal standards as outlined in the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and, (7) adequate non-Federal cost share. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is required, including negotiation of terms for the conservation easement or acquisition. Applicants should proceed with initial appraisal and Forest Stewardship Plan development, as due diligence is one of several key factors in project evaluation and ranking. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Individual participating States have application duties and procedures. The Forest Service conducts an annual project selection process to arrive at a prioritized national project list. The Forest Service then issues grants to states based on the amounts provided in Congressional appropriations of Inflation Reduction Act Funds and the prioritized national project list. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines An annual project selection calendar with due dates will be developed each fiscal year, and will identify deadlines and approval times. Not applicable. Not applicable. Project evaluation and priority ranking is based on the three national core criteria (importance, threatened, and strategy, as defined in the 2017 FLP Implementation Guidelines) as well as project readiness and other evaluation considerations developed in consultation with States and FS Units. Landowner participation in the program is voluntary and consists of two components: (1) conveying land or interests in land to achieve land conservation objectives and (2) preparing and periodically updating a Forest Stewardship Management Plan or a multi-resource management plan, when the participation is through conservation easement. State lead agencies must first evaluate and approve projects as Forest Legacy eligible before competing for Forest Service funding. Performance Reports: Performance Reports: The Forest Service program manager shall conduct monitoring activities to track program accomplishments. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 State Lead Agencies are required to retain complete grant files on each grant issued. States must report annual accomplishments data in the Forest Legacy Information System. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 25%. Federal Contribution cannot exceed 75 percent of total project costs, and at least a 25 percent non-Federal cost share is required. The non-Federal cost share may consist of: funds, donations, land or interests in land, in-kind contributions, direct costs, indirect costs, and others as determined by the Forest Service. Funds will be provided to the States on a per-project basis, as determined by the annual appropriations. The non-Federal cost share can occur at any phase of the project within the legal grant period, including planning, developing future projects, acquisition or administrative activities. Matching requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Secretary.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Assistance is provided via grants to States. Typical grant period is two years. Grants may receive a no cost extension up to five years with justification if approved by the Forest Service. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Payments made based on authorization and negotiation of provisions with cooperator. Assistance awarded is provided via grants. Payments are made no more than monthly See Regional Agency Office. Refer to the web site below for Regional State and Private Forestry offices of the Forest Service and for addresses and telephone numbers of Program contacts: https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy Scott Stewart
1400 Independence Ave SW, MS 1123
Washington, DC 20250 USA
scott.stewart@usda.gov
Phone: 2022051618

Claire Harper
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250 USA
claire.harper@usda.gov
Phone: 303-895-6157 https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy 12-5367-0-1-302 (Project Grants) FY 22 FY 23 est $100,000,000.00; FY 24 est $249,999,999.00; - Not applicable/available. Forest Legacy Program Implementation Guidelines of 2017 Not applicable.