Keep Forests as Forests with Conservation Easements

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Tell Federal Lawmakers To Support the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act

America’s private forests are disappearing at an alarming rate—37 million acres could be lost by 2060, an area the size of Illinois. These forests provide clean drinking water for 30% of Americans, store carbon to fight climate change, and support 2.5 million jobs. Yet, development pressure threatens to convert these lands away from forest use.

The Forest Conservation Easement Act (FCEP) offers a solution: voluntary land protection agreements, know as "conservation easements", that keep forests intact while allowing landowners to continue working their land. Without this program, we risk losing critical wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and rural economic stability.

The Ask

Reach out to your U.S. Representative and urge them to support the Forest Conservation Easement Act (H.R.3476 / S.1050) and ensure it is included in the Farm Bill with mandatory funding.

The Background

Private forests make up 58% of U.S. forestland and account for 80% of annual carbon sequestration.
They filter drinking water, provide habitat for 60% of at-risk species, and supply 90% of forest products.
FCEP would:
- Purchase development rights from willing landowners.
- Keep forests as forests while remaining privately owned and on tax rolls.
- Offer permanent or long-term easements held by federal or qualified entities.

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Tell Federal Lawmakers To Support the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act

The Ask

Reach out to your U.S. Representative and urge them to support the Forest Conservation Easement Act (H.R.3476 / S.1050) and ensure it is included in the Farm Bill with mandatory funding.

The Background

Private forests make up 58% of U.S. forestland and account for 80% of annual carbon sequestration.
They filter drinking water, provide habitat for 60% of at-risk species, and supply 90% of forest products.
FCEP would:
- Purchase development rights from willing landowners.
- Keep forests as forests while remaining privately owned and on tax rolls.
- Offer permanent or long-term easements held by federal or qualified entities.

Openlands Privacy Policy

Members of United States Congress

Subject: Support the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3476)

Message:

As your constituent, I urge you to cosponsor the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3476) and support its inclusion in the conservation title of the Farm Bill with mandatory funding.

This bipartisan bill will help keep forests as forests by filling gaps in federal forest easement funding to ensure we can preserve working forestlands at scale and put working forestland on par with other working lands in the Farm Bill. FCEP would rename, replace, and expand upon the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program and is designed to keep forests from being converted to non-forest uses by purchasing development rights – via voluntary conservation easements – from willing private and tribal landowners. Private forests in an FCEP easement can remain working forests, contributing to timber economies and providing numerous environmental benefits to rural and urban communities.

These voluntary easements allow these private forests to remain working lands while providing critical benefits, including:
- Climate resilience and carbon sequestration
- Habitat restoration for at-risk species
- Economic opportunities for landowners and rural communities

The FCEP Act also strengthens the ability of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to conserve forests at scale and fills a major gap in federal forest easement funding.

Please help protect our forests and support the many benefits they provide by co-sponsoring and supporting H.R. 3476.

Thank you.

Member of the U.S. Congress that Sponsor the Bill

Subject: Thank you for Sponsoring the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3476)

Message:

As your constituent, I want to sincerely thank you for sponsoring the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3476). Your leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation is deeply appreciated and critical to the future of our nation’s forests.

This bipartisan bill will help keep forests as forests by filling gaps in federal forest easement funding to ensure we can preserve working forestlands at scale and put working forestland on par with other working lands in the Farm Bill. FCEP would rename, replace, and expand upon the existing Healthy Forests Reserve Program and is designed to keep forests from being converted to non-forest uses by purchasing development rights – via voluntary conservation easements – from willing private and tribal landowners. Private forests in an FCEP easement can remain working forests, contributing to timber economies and providing numerous environmental benefits to rural and urban communities.

These voluntary easements allow these private forests to remain working lands while providing critical benefits, including:
- Climate resilience and carbon sequestration
- Habitat restoration for at-risk species
- Economic opportunities for landowners and rural communities

The FCEP Act also strengthens the ability of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to conserve forests at scale and fills a major gap in federal forest easement funding.

Thank you, again, for your commitment to forest conservation and for supporting the many environmental, economic, and community benefits forests provide. Your sponsorship of H.R. 3476 is a meaningful step toward protecting these vital resources for generations to come.

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Tell Federal Lawmakers To Support the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act

Tell Federal Lawmakers To Support the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act

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