Federal Forest Legacy Program

Established in 1990 as part of the Farm Bill, the federal Forest Legacy Program works in partnership with states and private landowners to identify and protect ecologically important forests that are threatened by development.

The easements:

• Are voluntary land protection agreements that restrict development while ensuring public access, sustainable timber management and wildlife habitat.
• Keep forestlands working to produce wood and fiber to benefit state and local economies.
• Keep the land in private hands and generating property taxes.

Since 2002, the federal Forest Legacy Program has helped protect more than 62,000 acres of forestland in the Baraboo Hills, Wild Rivers Legacy Forest, Wolf River basin and other parts of our Northwoods.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr. (Lower Aimer Lake); Photo © Cate Harrington/TNC (cut logs).