US Forest Service Invests More Than $80 Million in Forest Conservation Projects

The US Forest Service announced it will invest more than $80 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support 15 congressionally approved Forest Legacy projects in 2026.

The projects will permanently conserve more than 34,000 acres (13,800 acres) of privately owned working forests across the US.

The Forest Legacy Program is designed to help landowners maintain working forests that support timber production, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, and long-term stewardship. The Forest Service said approximately 90% of Forest Legacy sites provide full or partial public access for recreation.

The agency added that the projects also help maintain actively managed forests that are more resilient to wildfire risk. Three of this year’s projects—Curley Creek Woodland and McNall Family Forest in Idaho, and Madrone Ridge in Oregon—are located within 10 miles of landscapes identified as being at high risk of wildfire.

“The Forest Legacy program makes critical investments in working forests with state partnerships to provide timber supplies and other wood products, provide public access for recreation, secure drinking water, and maintain wildlife habitat in some of the most important forests across the nation,” US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said.