How to apply

Thank you for considering the Forest Legacy Program for the protection of your forested land.  This program allows the state of Wisconsin to purchase conservation easements to keep forests in forests.

Applying for the Forest Legacy Program involves gathering as much information about the property as possible.  It's advisable to work with your local DNR Forester or other natural resource professional, land trusts, or local, state and regional conservation groups when applying for the Forest Legacy Program. 

In order for land to be eligible for FLP it must be located within one of the four Forest Legacy Areas, as indicated in Wisconsin’s Assessment of Need. 

Once a year, there will be a call for projects.  At this time interested parties may submit an application.  By completing and submitting the Forest Legacy Program Application, you're taking the first step toward obtaining a permanent conservation easement on your property.  The application questions should be seriously considered and answered with the assistance of a natural resource professional familiar with the property, if possible.  This program operates on a willing buyer, willing seller relationship and land condemnation will not occur if an agreement is not made.

This program is not for everyone and we are attempting with this application to determine whether your property meets the minimum requirements for this program.  Actual funding for any project depends upon a number of factors including the perceived public value of the property at both the State and Federal levels, the endorsement of the project by the Forest Stewardship Committee and State Forester, and the availability of funds from Congress for the program.

Site visits and inspection of the property may be necessary, so an inspection consent agreement is part of the landowner application.

The Forest Stewardship Committee ranks the applications and makes a recommendation to the Department.  The DNR submits the top-ranked projects to the US Forest Service.  Funding at the national level is extremely competitive and unpredictable; Wisconsin has not always been successful in receiving project funding. The Forest Legacy grant timeline is here.