Yes, Nevada has forests. One of the many features of Nevada's landscape is the diversity of the different biomes and ecosystems of which include forestlands. Nevada lands are composed approximately of 8 million acres of forested lands. Nevada is home to the typical, commercial forests that house many species of timber productive species such as pines, firs, and cedars but Nevada is also home to many vast and beautiful woodland forests including pinyon-juniper and aspen groves. These dynamic landscapes define the beauty and value of Nevada as an opportunity for the public to connect with the landscape for generations to come. To learn more about Nevada's landscapes and the state management objectives, please review our Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Action Plan.

Nevada has a Legacy. In 1990, the United States Forest Service established the Forest Legacy Program through an amendment to the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 as a means of protecting valuable forested landscapes in private ownership that were at risk of conversion from forestland to developed areas. Nevada has been developing rapidly within the past decade but one of the main attractions of Nevada is the wild, open areas. Through the Forest Legacy Program as administered by Nevada Division of Forestry, we can preserve Nevada's forested private lands. More information about the history and implementation of the Forest Legacy Program through the United States Department of Agriculture can be found at this link or please use the link or please see below to watch a 27-minute video about the Forest Legacy Program.

The Forest Legacy Program on Vimeo

 

You can have a Forest Legacy. Nevada Division of Forestry works with private forest land owners to identify and protect forested lands to provide for the beneficial features that forests provide including abundant wildlife, scenic values, water quality, recreational opportunities, timber management, as well as cultural and historic values. The Forest Legacy program is a conservation easement program that works with the landowner to perpetually preserve a forested landscape from development by selling the property's development rights. To learn if your property is eligible, please reach out to ndfstewardship@forestry.nv.gov. Some critical elements that an eligible forested land must have include:

• Be within a designated State Forest Legacy Area (in Nevada this includes Tahoe-Sierra Front, Mt. Charleston, Schell Creek Mountains, Muddy River, and Jarbidge areas).
• Be at least 10 acres in size.
• Be at least 75% forested or have the potential to be 75% forested as documented in a Stewardship plan.
• The land can be managed consistent with the purpose for which it was acquired for FLP (e.g. conservation forest, timber forest, recreational pursuits, hiking trails, wildlife migration corridors, etc.).
• The landowner is willing to sell or donate the interest in perpetuity.
• The landowner acknowledges that conservation easements will be held by a government entity if federal funds are used for the acquisition.

All properties that are determined to be eligible will have a Stewardship Plan written to determine a 10 year outlook for restoration and land management objectives. Please follow this link to learn more about Nevada Division of Forestry's Stewardship Plan writing process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other resources for your lands are available. If you are unsure of what your land management needs are, please use our brief intake form to help describe your land management goals: NDF Stewardship Landowner Interest Form.

Once your form is submitted, Nevada Division of Forestry Staff will review your responses and reach out to you to direct you in the right direction. To see some other grant opportunities through Nevada Division of Forestry, please see our other Nevada Division of Forestry Grant Funding Opportunities.

 

The right tools for the job are important. Nevada Division of Forestry offers several different resources and Some of the tools available for use from Nevada Division of Forestry include:

• Prescribed Fire
• Conservation Camps
• Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation
• Biomass and Forest Products
• Aviation Resources
• Nursery Services
• Seedbank
• Wildfire Rehabilitation and Restoration
• Permitting

 

Join Our Email List. Starting in 2025, the Nevada Division of Forestry's Stewardship Program will be sending out a monthly email discussing the available funding opportunities and upcoming news from the Division. To join please send an email to ndfstewardship@forestry.nv.gov detailing your name and the email address to be enrolled.

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.