Stanislaus National Forest
Sierra Sun Times file photo
April 14, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Ken Calvert (CA-41) introduced the “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act,” which would help permanently conserve privately owned working forestlands. They are joined by U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Josh Harder (CA-09), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).
The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.2771) would give States the option to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that federal or state governments hold conservation easements purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.
“As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. Federal and state governments can, and must, do a better job of working with private landowners who want to conserve their land, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. My bill would unlock millions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands, create good-paying jobs, and support sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk,” said Congressman Garamendi.
“The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will provide new tools to help achieve our conservation, forest management, and economic goals. This bipartisan bill is an important step in strengthening partnerships between private landowners and public stakeholders interested in conserving forestlands,” said Congressman Calvert.
“We applaud Congressmen Calvert and Garamendi for introducing this bill. This commonsense, practical, no-cost enhancement to the Forest Legacy Program will make it easier for private landowners and states to fulfill their goals of voluntarily conserving working forestlands for all their public benefits while maintaining private ownership. The flexibility provided in this bill will help many states, like California, Oregon, and Washington, leverage private-public partnerships to get better outcomes while saving money and resources,” said Laurie Wayburn, Pacific Forest Trust President.
Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will help permanently conserve more land by working with private landowners who want to choose conservation but do not want to sell the federal or state governments an easement on their property. The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” would save states money and time, increasing the impact and reach of the Forest Legacy Program.
Endorsements: Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Pacific Forest Trust, California Rangeland Trust, North Coast Land Conservancy, American River Conservancy, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Oregon Agricultural Trust, Placer Land Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Natural Lands, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Forest Society of Maine, Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Saratoga PLAN.
Garamendi previously served on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources (2011-2012) and the Committee on Agriculture (2012-2014), which oversee both the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest System. Garamendi served as the first Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998 during the Clinton Administration.
Source: Congressman John Garamendi
