H.R. 2771 amends federal forestry law to give states greater flexibility in managing the Forest Legacy Program, which protects privately owned forests through conservation easements. The bill allows states to authorize qualified nonprofit organizations—rather than only government agencies—to acquire, hold, and manage these easements on forest land. To participate, organizations must meet strict eligibility requirements, including being accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and having no history of tax or legal problems related to conservation easements. The bill includes safeguards requiring that if an organization fails to properly manage an easement or violates program rules, the rights automatically revert to the state or another approved organization. This change primarily affects state forestry agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners participating in the Forest Legacy Program, which works to preserve working forests and their environmental benefits.
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