TN Department of Agriculture Press Release:
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) announces the application period is open for a special round of Forest Legacy Program (FLP) funding made available to landowners to protect privately owned forested land from development.
“As conversion of forested land for development increases in Tennessee, the need to conserve critical woodlands grows,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “This program helps put long-term conservation within reach for more Tennesseans, helping to ensure that future generations will have access to the many benefits sustainably managed forests provide, including a thriving forest industry, clean air and pure water.”
FLP is a conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with TDF to protect privately owned forest lands from conversion to non-forest uses through conservation easements or land purchases. Federal grant funds pay for conservation easements that restrict development and allow landowners to continue to own and manage their land.
Applications should be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Central time on May 22, 2026.
The request for proposal package and more information about Tennessee’s FLP are available at the Forest Legacy Program webpage. For questions, contact TDF’s Landscape Conservation Program Specialist Allana Funderburk at allana.funderburk@tn.gov.
FLP in Tennessee currently conserves more than 58,000 acres valued at more than $59 million across the state. Conserving and managing forested land in Tennessee contributes to improved water and air quality, fosters fish and wildlife habitat, provides sustainable timber and other forest products, and offers recreation opportunities.
TDF protects Tennessee’s forests by fighting wildland fires, coordinating hazard emergency response, providing wildland fire training, and offering prescribed fire guidance and services. The division promotes the responsible use of forest resources by providing technical and financial assistance to landowners, cultivating quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality, and collecting forest inventory data. TDF also promotes forest industries to stimulate the state’s economy. Visit the ennessee Division of Forestry webpage for more information. (Photo submitted)