The Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025 establishes a new federal program under the Department of Agriculture to purchase conservation easements on private and tribal forest lands, allowing the government to protect forests for endangered species habitat, wildlife, and carbon storage while permitting continued sustainable forestry on some properties. Eligible participants include state and local governments, Indian tribes, and conservation organizations, with the federal government covering 50 percent of easement costs (up to 75 percent for environmentally sensitive areas or socially disadvantaged landowners), while easements on federal or already-protected land are excluded. The program prioritizes applications that maintain working forests, prevent fragmentation, and benefit endangered species, with restrictions on mining and requirements for environmental reclamation on easement lands. The legislation authorizes $100 million annually from 2025 through 2029 and replaces the previous Healthy Forests Reserve Program while protecting all existing contracts and agreements under that program. Landowners participating in the program are exempt from standard payment limits and income restrictions, and the Secretary of Agriculture has flexibility to modify easements for utilities if conservation values are maintained.
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