Hawaii Forest Legacy Program

Protecting private forest lands from conversions to non-forest uses.

Applications are due August 20, 2013 for federal fiscal funding 2015!

NEW - Forest Legacy application template (click here)

The Forest Legacy Program is a Federal grant program that aids State's in identifying important private forest lands that are threatened by development or fragmentation.  Through the program, interested landowners are provided with alternatives to selling their land for development in order to cover costs associated with increased taxes, management of the land, among others by selling the land or a conservation easement on the property to a government organization.  For more about the National Forest Legacy Program please visit the USDA Forest Service website.

E malama i ka ulula'au - Care for the forest

The Hawaii Forest Legacy Program targets forest lands as idenitifed in the Hawaii Forest Legacy Program Assessment of Needs (AON) and contribute to overall program goals, including: 

	Protect Hawaii’s unique and fragile environmental resources Encourage the protection of rare and/or endangered species Promote the preservation of aesthetic beauty in Hawai‘i Preserve watershed health and protect the sustainable yield of fresh water Protect working forests as economic assets for the state and counties of Hawai‘i Protect traditional and cultural forest practices and resources Protect recreational forest practices

Click here to view proposed new forest legacy areas map
(NOTE: Adobe Acrobat reader is required to view this map)

State agencies compile and submit acquisition proposals for competitive review and ranking.  The State of Hawaii accepts applications year round with a cut off date of August 22th for applications to be submitted for the following years funding.  Applicants submitted after August 22, 2011 will be considered for the next years funding.  Projects will be reviewed early September. If a project is accepted it will be taken to the Regional then National Level for review and competition.  The entire process generally takes over a year before funding determination is known, after which the acquisition process may take equally as long.  Parties interested in the Hawaii Forest Legacy Program are encouraged to contact the Program Manager with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife prior to the August deadline as the application process may take months to complete and the program is very competitive.  Please contact the Program Manager for examples of applications at (808) 587-0166 or Sheri.S.Mann@hawaii.gov.