Healthy Forests Reserve Program

The Healthy Forests Reserve Program was signed into law in 2003 and amended in the 2008 Farm Bill. The program is intended to assist landowners in voluntarily restoring, protecting, and enhancing forest resources on their lands through conservation easements, 30-year contracts, and ten-year cost share agreements. The program is designed to promote threatened and endangered species recovery, improve biodiversity, and enhance carbon sequestration. The intent is to restore and protect forests that improve environmental quality including biodiversity and contribute to the economy. The program provides financial assistance in the form of easement payments and cost-share for specific conservation actions undertaken by the landowner. The program is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Services.