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S1050119th CongressWALLET

Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Introduced

Summary

new Forest Conservation Easement Program would create a stand‑alone easement program in the Food Security Act to protect working forests, restore habitat, and carry forward the goals of the Healthy Forests Reserve Program while preserving existing agreements.

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  • Private forest landowners and Indian Tribes would be able to enroll eligible forest land under permanent easements, 30‑year easements, or long‑term contracts and receive payments based on fair market value and appraisal methods.
  • Socially disadvantaged forest landowners may be evaluated separately, get priority consideration, and can qualify for higher federal cost shares up to 75 percent in some cases.
  • Eligible entities like State agencies, Tribes, and qualified conservation organizations would get funding and technical assistance to buy easements, develop forest management plans, and support restoration projects that prioritize threatened or endangered species and reduce fragmentation.

*This bill would authorize $100 million per year for fiscal years 2025–2029, totaling $500 million in authorizations and thereby increase federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Payments and cost-share for landowners

If enacted, payments for permanent easements would equal the land's appraised value before enrollment minus its value after the easement. For 30-year or State-duration term easements, payments would be 50% to 75% of that permanent-easement amount. The federal share to buy an easement would normally be 50% of the easement value and could be up to 75% for special forests or socially disadvantaged owners. For forest reserve easement plans, the Secretary could pay up to 100% of eligible costs for permanent easements, or 50%–75% for term easements, but not more than $500,000 per easement or contract. Program payments would not be reduced by certain payment-attribution or adjusted gross income limits, and the Secretary could provide technical help to develop plans.

New forest easement program and funding

If enacted, the Secretary would create a Forest Conservation Easement Program to buy easements and fund planning, monitoring, and enforcement. Congress could be authorized to spend $100 million each year from FY2025 through FY2029 for the program. You would apply in the form and timing the Secretary sets, and the Secretary would rank projects to protect working forests and reduce fragmentation. The bill would limit use of 30-year easements so no more than 10% of the section's yearly funds could go to them. The bill would repeal the old Healthy Forests Reserve Program but keep existing contracts and required payments valid.

Agreements, enforcement, and mineral rules

If enacted, eligible entities getting cost-share would need agreements with the Secretary, usually lasting 3 to 5 years unless a longer term is justified. Agreements must require a forest management plan and set impervious surface limits. The Secretary could inspect, enforce, or terminate agreements and require refunds with interest if terms are broken. Subsurface mineral work could be allowed only with a Secretary‑approved plan, limited impacts, no surface mining, and required restoration after work stops.

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Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kirsten Gillibrand

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Roger Wicker

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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