Garamendi reintroduces bill aimed at conserving privately owned working forestlands

U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) has reintroduced the “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) alongside Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA02), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH02), Jim Costa (D-CA21), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR01).

“As Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, I know that our national conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership alone. The federal and state governments can and must do a better job of working with private landowners who want to choose conservation, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. My bill would unlock billions in federal funding to help states conserve working forestlands to support jobs and sustainable forest management that reduces wildfire risk,” said Congressman Garamendi.

“Forests provide crucial habitat for wildlife, protect clean watersheds, and absorb climate-warming carbon from the atmosphere. They are also an important part of Northwest Oregon’s rural economy. The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act will result in the conservation of more private forestlands, creating a better future for generations to come,” said Congresswoman Bonamici.

“The Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act is vital for mitigating the impacts of climate change and preserving our forests. This legislation will enable us to better engage private landowners and reduce wildfire risks, supporting both our rural economy and sustainable forest management,” said Congressman Costa.

The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) would allow States to designate accredited nonprofit land trusts to hold conservation easements purchased with federal grant funds under the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that only federal or state governments hold these easements.

Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program this flexibility will help conserve more land permanently by collaborating with private landowners who prefer not to sell easements to government entities. Conserving working forestlands supports the rural economy, while sustainable forest management practices that reduce wildfire risk support local jobs.

Garamendi’s bill aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s “America the Beautiful” National Conservation Goal to protect at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, as well as Governor Newsom’s similar goal for California.

The “Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act” (H.R.9602) has garnered support from several organizations:

National Endorsements: Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, American Farmland Trust, Pacific Crest Trail Association

California Endorsements: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), California Rangeland Trust, Pacific Forest Trust, Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Feather River Land Trust, American River Conservancy, Placer Land Trust, Lassen Land and Trails Trust, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Sequoia Riverlands Trust, Truckee Donner Land Trust, Sierra County Land Trust, Shasta Land Trust

New England Endorsements: New England Forestry Foundation, Monadnock Conservancy, Society for the Protection of NH Forests, Squam Lakes Conservation Organization, Kestrel Land Trust, Forest Society of Maine, Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Past Cosponsors:

115th Congress: Rep. Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY)

114th Congress: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Now-Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)

113th Congress: Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH), Jared Huffman (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Steve Womack (R-AR), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA); Now-Senators Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Todd Young (R-IN)

Garamendi previously served on the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture from 2011 to 2014 which oversee both the U.S. Forest Service and National Forest System operations.