>> HIS LEGACY IS ABOUT KEEPING WORKING FORCE.

>> WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONSERVE THIS PROPERTY AND KEEP IT INTACT WITHOUT THE LEGACY.

>> OVER HALF OF OUR NATION'S FOREST LANDS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED AND PROVIDE A MULTIPLICITY OF BENEFITS FROM FOREST PRODUCTS, WATER RECREATION, WILDLIFE, SCENERY, CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER.

>> I THINK IF PEOPLE KNEW MORE, THEY'D BE EVEN MORE EXCITED AND GRATEFUL THAT THIS WAS ESTABLISHED AND THAT WE'VE MANAGED TO KEEP IT ROLLING.

>> THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM IS A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME OF COMBINING PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY WITH THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF PRIVATE LAND.

AND THE RIGHT TO USE IT AS YOU SEE FIT.

>> THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT FOREST AREAS FROM CONVERSION TO NON-FOREST USES TO EITHER ACQUIRING THE LAND FOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OR THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

A CONSERVATION EASEMENT RESTRICTS DEVELOPMENT BUT ALLOWS PRIVATE OWNERS TO MANAGE THEIR FOREST IN PERPETUITY.

THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE BUT RELIES ON A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

WHILE FOREST LANDS HAVE EXPERIENCED A TREMENDOUS RECOVERY OVER THE LAST CENTURY, THE THREAT OF LOSING LARGE TRACTS OF PRIVATELY OWNED WOODLANDS TO DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER NONFOREST USES STILL EXISTS.

>> THE ISSUE CAME TO A HEAD IN, I THINK, IT WAS 1988 WHEN DIAMOND AIR INTERNATIONAL PAPER CORPORATION HAD ANNOUNCED IT WAS GOING TO SELL OFF LARGE TRACT.

THEY WERE ONE OF A FEW BIG LANDOWNERS IN THE NORTHEAST, MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT AND NEW YORK, A FEW COMPANIES OWNING MILLIONS OF ACRES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED FOR PAPER PRODUCTION.

A LOT OF THESE PAPER COMPANIES ENDED UP BEING ACQUIRED BY NOT JUST OUT OF STATE INTERESTS BUT OUT OF COUNTRY INTERESTS.

IT BECAME INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

THE NEW OWNERS DIDN'T HAVE THAT TIED TO THE LAND.

THAT PRESSURE, THAT WORRY LED TO SENATOR RUDMAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SENATOR LEAHY FROM VERMONT CRAFT A BILL TO MAKE -- CREATE THIS NORTHERN FOREST LANDS COUNCIL.

>> CAN'T JUST SWOOP IN AND SAY THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TAKE THE LAND.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

LET'S SEE A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE LANDOWNERS AND PRESERVE THE LAND.

>> FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE HAD THE MONEY TO ALLOW THE STATES TO PROTECT THESE LANDS WITHOUT TAKING THEM OVER.

>> IT'S A BLENDING OF THE INTENTIONS AND EFFORTS OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PARTIES.

THE STATE IS IN THE LEAD.

THE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE OPTING INTO, THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES BUT THE STATE IS RUNNING IT.

SO I THINK THE KEY THING IS THIS IS THE STATE AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WORKING IN A FEDERAL CONSTRUCT.

>> IT MAKES SENSE.

WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL TREASURES IN THIS COUNTRY.

THIS IS SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US.

AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> THE 1990 FARM BILL LISTED MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON STATE AS ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS IN THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM.

JUST OVER $4 MILLION WAS APPROPRIATED DURING THE INITIAL YEAR OF THE PROGRAM.

>> I'M PROUD OF THAT, BUT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED HARD.

PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.

BUSH SIGNED IT AND THE DEVIL WAS IN THE DETAILS.

WE HAD TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND WE DID.

>> VERMONT BEING READY, WE COULDN'T SEE A REASON NOT TO TRY AND HAVE THE VERY FIRST PROGRAM SUCCESS MADE IN VERMONT.

>> THE 1600 ACRE MOUNTAIN POND PROPERTY IN GRANDBY, VERMONT WAS THE FIRST FOREST LEGACY PROJECT.

THE PROJECT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT INCLUDING THE TOWN, STATE OF VERMONT AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS.

THE TOWN OF GRANDBY, POPULATION 71, PURCHASED THEIR PART OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE SALE OF ADIRONDACK CHAIRS, BIRD HOUSES AND POTLUCK DINNERS.

WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE AGREEMENT IN APRIL OF 1993, TWO PARCELS OF LAND ENCOMPASSING THE POND THAT WERE AT RISK OF BEING DEVELOPED WERE CONSERVED PROVIDING RECREATION, SCENERY AND TIMBER IN PERPETUITY.

>> IN FACT, THE FIRST FOREST LEGACY PROJECT EVER WAS IN VERMONT POND AND WE'RE RIGHTFULLY PROUD OF THAT.

AND WHAT IT'S KICKED OFF.

THIS CASCADE OF SUBSEQUENT PROJECTS WITH THESE THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL LINKAGES, THEY'RE WORKING FORESTS AND HAVE RECREATIONAL ACCESS.

>> FOR A GROWING NUMBER OF PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE STORAGE OF THEIR LAND, THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM PROVIDED AS IT DOES TODAY A WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY.

BY ALLOWING THEM TO MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY IN AN ECONOMICAL AND SUSTAINABLE WAY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, MAINTAINING THESE TREASURED PROPERTIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WRIGHT PRESTON OF RICHMOND, VERMONT RECOGNIZES THE PROGRAM'S BENEFITS.

>> MY GRANDPARENTS THEY ACQUIRED 1900 ACRES AND THEY BOUGHT IT FOR ENJOYMENT FOR THEIR KIDS' ENJOYMENT AND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION'S ENJOYMENT.

MY PARENTS PASSED ON IN THE MID 1990s AND AFTER THAT OCCURRED, THERE WAS PRESSURE FROM MY SIBLINGS TO SALE THE PROPERTY.

AND CONVERT IT INTO CASH.

I HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA AND WAS LOOKING TO KEEP THE FOREST LAND INTACT.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONSERVE THIS PROPERTY AND KEEP IT INTACT WITHOUT FOREST LEGACY.

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS WORKING FORESTS, WORKING LANDSCAPE.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS.

WATER QUALITY IS A VERY BIG COMPONENT OF THIS PROPERTY.

WE HAVE TO FACTOR THAT INTO WHERE THE HARVEST IS DONE.

WE HAVE TO FACTOR THAT INTO MAINTAINING SKID ROWS AND IMPLEMENTING ALL THE ACCEPTABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE PROPERTY.

ONE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC IS IT'S A LARGE PARCEL IN CHITTENDEN COUNTY AND IN TERMS OF AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, PARCELS LIKE THIS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> WELL, OF COURSE, THE PRIMARY BENEFIT IS I GET TO COME BACK EVERY YEAR.

SO I SPEND THREE OR FOUR MONTHS A YEAR HERE.

WORKED HERE CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER JOBS THAT I DO BUT OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE -- THIS IS WHERE I LIKE TO COME AND IT'S HOME FOR US HERE.

>> IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON LARGE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTIES HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON TIMBER AND FOREST PRODUCTS TO REMAIN STABLE AND THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

MAINTAINING A WORKING FOREST NOT ONLY HAS ECONOMIC BENEFITS, IT CONSERVES CRITICAL HABITAT FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AS WELL AS UNIQUE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

IN 1999, WITH HELP FROM A KEY PARTNER, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, THE 5,000 PLUS ACRE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT COMPANY WAS SOLD TO FOREST PARKS AND RECREATION TO CREATE THE GREEN RIVER RESERVOIR STATE PARK.

THE PROJECT COMBINED FUNDING FROM THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM AND THE VERMONT HOUSING AND CONSERVATION BOARD AND TO THIS DAY DEMONSTRATES A VARIETY OF BENEFITS WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ON THE PUBLIC -- PART OF THE PUBLIC IN THE MORRISVILLE AREA, PARTICULARLY FROM HISTORIC USERS THAT THE CHARACTER NOT CHANGE.

>> WE WORKED VERY HARD TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE STATE PARK WITH THE HELP OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND OTHER GROUPS, GRASSROOTS GROUPS LIKE OURS, ABLE TO BE PURCHASED.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IT IS AMONG THE MOST SPECTACULAR RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN THE STATE OF VERMONT.

>> THERE'S 19 MILES OF UNDEVELOPED SHORELINE.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF GREEN RIVER RESERVOIR STATE PARK IS TO MAINTAIN IT IN ITS WILDERNESS LIKE CHARACTER.

>> EVERY TIME YOU HAVE SUCCESS, IT BREEDS MORE CONFIDENCE THAT STATE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CITIZENS GROUPS LIKE FRIENDS OF GREN RIVER RESERVOIR CAN GET IT RIGHT AND DELIVER IMPORTANT PUBLIC BENEFITS.

>> THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THEM ARE THE HEROES OF THIS STORY.

AND THE RESULT IS AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL WILD AREA THAT WILL BE OURS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> SUCCESSFUL FOREST LEGACY PROJECTS CONTINUE TO DELIVER PUBLIC BENEFITS OF MANAGED FOREST LAND AND RECREATIONAL ACCESS WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING OTHER IMPORTANT PURPOSES LIKE CONSERVING HABITAT AND CONNECTIVITY AND WILDLIFE TRAVEL CORRIDORS.

BY PURCHASING STRATEGICALLY LOCATED FOREST FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, IT CONNECTED THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST.

THIS CREATED A PROTECTED CORRIDOR AND CONSERVED CRITICAL HABITAT FOR BLACK BEAR AND OTHER WILDLIFE THAT HAVE LARGE RANGES.

>> WE ENDED UP STEPPING BACK AND TAKING A LANDSCAPE VIEW AND WE REALIZED THE RISK TO THOSE PRIVATE OWNERSHIPS OF BEING DEVELOPED AND BREAKING UP THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE NORTHERN GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST AND THE SOUTHERN GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST LANDSCAPE PROJECTS THAT THE STATE TOOK ON WHERE WE WERE LOOKING REALLY FROM 20,000 FEET AT A LANDSCAPE THAT WOULD INVOLVE THOUSANDS OF ACRES.

AND LEGACY WAS THE PERFECT FIT FOR THE PRIVATE FORESTRY AND TURNED OUT TO BE A REAL CATALYST FOR OTHER FUNDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE BOTH FOR STATE OWNERSHIP AND LANDS TO BE ADDED TO THE NATIONAL FOREST AND TO THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL.

>> WE AND OUR PARTNERS WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME VERY KEY PARCELS USING THE FOREST LEGACY MONEY.

AND IF THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO DO THE CONSERVATION WORK IN THIS CORRIDOR THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO DO.

>> WE'RE NOT JUST CONSERVING THE LANDS BUT ALSO PROTECTING A WORKING FOREST.

AND PART OF THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE POPULATION OF VERMONT, PEOPLE OF VERMONT THAT THEY'VE GOT A WAY OF MAKING A LIVING BUT ALSO FOR THOSE MAKING A LIVING, WHEN YOU HAVE A WORKING FOREST AND DIVERSITY OF HABITAT AND THAT PRODUCES THE DIVERSITY OF FOODS THAT THE BEARS NEED.

>> THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL LANDOWNERS WITHIN THIS GREEN MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

BY PERMANENTLY CONSERING SOME OF THEIR WOODLANDS, THEY HAVE CONSERVED THIS CRITICAL CORRIDOR USED BY THE GROWING BLACK BEAR POPULATION AND BEARS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT BENEFIT FROM THE CONSERVED LANDSCAPE.

>> THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO PRESERVE NOT JUST THIS 440 ACRES BUT ANOTHER 3,000 ACRES SOUTH OF HERE.

WE HAVE OVER 1,000 CHILDREN THAT COME HERE FOR CAMP EVERY SUMMER.

AND THEY COME HERE FOR THE BEAUTY, THEY COME HERE FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE HABITAT, FOR KNOWING THAT THERE'S BEARS LOOKING AROUND IN THE WOODS BEHIND THEIR CABIN.

CAMPERS BUILD ON AVERAGE TWO TIMBER FRAME CABINS OR OTHER STRUCTURES PER SUMMER AND THEY'RE USING THE WOOD THAT'S FROM THIS LAND SO THIS LAND ALLOWS US TO HAVE RECREATIONAL USE FOR OUR CAMPERS AND ALSO A DRIVER OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> THIS FOREST CONSERVATION PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN FIVE STATES IN THE EARLY 1990s EXPANDED NATIONALLY.

BY 2010, THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM SERVED 49 STATES AND FOUR U.S.

TERRITORIES.

CONSERVING OVER 2.6 MILLION ACHES BY 2016.

>> EVERY STATE WITH THEIR FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM IS REALLY ABLE TO PUT A FAKE FOCUS ON IT WHICH MAKES FOREST WILL GO SI UNIQUE.

ALTHOUGH IT'S A FEDERAL PROGRAM, IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO ASSESS THE NEEDS AND DIRECT THEIR PROGRAMS.

>> AS THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM EXPANDED TO OTHER REGIONS, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS WERE ACHIEVED.

IN FLORIDA, FORESTS ARE NOT ONLY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE PRODUCTS AND TIMBER SECTOR, BUT ALSO FOR THE VAST OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES WILDLIFE HABITATS AND THE CLEAN WATER THESE FORESTS PROVIDE TO BOTH THE MILLIONS OF ANNUAL VISITORS AND GROWING NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.

>> FLORIDA IS VERY UNIQUE.

WE ARE, AS AN ENTIRE STATE, DEPENDENT ON GROUNDWATER TO A LARGE EXTENT.

>> WATER IS BECOMING PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE KEY TO FLORIDA'S HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT INTO THE FUTURE.

>> WE HAVE 20 MILLION PEOPLE HERE NOW.

SO WITH PEOPLE COMES COMMERCE, COMES A THRIVING ECONOMY.

BUT ALSO, CHALLENGES BOTH OUR WATER SUPPLY AND OUR WATER QUALITY.

>> IT'S A MATTER OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE PRESSURES ARE.

UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE.

AND THEN WORKING HARD TO BALANCE BOTH OF THEM.

>> THE SPRING BEHIND ME IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

SILVER SPRINGS AVERAGE WELL OVER 550 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

BUT IT'S BEEN DECLINING IN FLOW.

AND IT'S BEEN DECLINING IN WATER QUALITY.

>> CONSERVATION TRUST FOR FLORIDA HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 YEARS.

WE IDENTIFIED 10,000 ACRES OF FOREST LAND NORTH OF SILVER SPRINGS.

IT IS PART OF THE IMMEDIATE RECHARGE AREA FOR SILVER SPRINGS AND SILVER SPRINGS BEING ONE OF THE LARGEST AND DEFINITELY PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SPRINGS IN FLORIDA.

>> THE 4900 ACRE SILVER SPRING FOREST WAS PURCHASED IN 2015 FROM THE RAINIER CORPORATION THROUGH A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

THE ST.

JOHN'S RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE CONSERVATION TRUST FOR FLORIDA, ALL CONTRIBUTED MATCHING FUNDS TO LEVERAGE THE FOREST LEGACY GRANT NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE.

THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTERS THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM FOR THE STATE AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN ONGOING MANAGEMENT.

>> A BUNCH OF LIKE MINDED FOLKS COMING TOGETHER FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.

SPRINGS PROTECTION.

WILDLIFE HABITAT.

OUTDOOR PUBLIC RECREATION.

WE JUST CAN'T THANK THE PARTNERSHIP ENOUGH.

>> SOME AREAS WILL BE RESTORED ESPECIALLY WHERE THE WATER IS FLOWING SO WE CAN BACK THAT WATER UP, SLOW IT DOWN AND GIVE IT A CHANCE TO RECHARGE LIKE IT USED TO DO AND KEEP SENTIMENTS AND EROSIONAL MATERIALS OUT OF THE RIVERS THAT THEY FEED.

>> THE ADJACENT LAND THIS PROPERTY IS CONNECTED TO 11,000 ACRES.

IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, WE'RE CONNECTED TO 600,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CONNECTION PIECES.

>> THE ST.

JOHN'S RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL BE MANAGING IT BUT IT WILL BE OPEN FOR HIKING, BIRD WATCHING, HUNTING.

WE REALLY SEE IT AS A GREAT SUCCESS STORY.

>> WITH SO MANY STEPS IN THIS PROCESS AND IN GETTING HERE, THIS IS REALLY AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

>> FLORIDA'S SUCCESS WITH THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCED IN THE SOUTHWEST STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.

IN THESE STATES, BY CONSERVING AREAS, THE PROGRAM CONSERVES THEIR SOURCES OF WATER BOTH IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY.

>> WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL FOREST IN THE SOUTHWEST, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS BEING THE PRIMARY WATER STEWARD.

IF WE DO ONE THING WELL, WE MANAGE THE LANDS SO WE CAN CAPTURE, STORE AND RELEASE WATER FOR THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO THE LANDS THAT FIT BEST IN THAT KIND OF A SCHEME WITHIN THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM ARE GOING TO BE LANDS THAT ARE ON AND AROUND WATER RESOURCES IN PARTICULAR.

NATIONAL FORESTS IN NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA ARE ONE OF THE PRIMARY SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER FOR ALBUQUERQUE, PHOENIX, TUCSON.

AND FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM LANDS, THOSE PROPERTIES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY BOTH.

AS WELL AS TO WILDLIFE HABITATS.

>> FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO BECAUSE WE DO HAVE LARGE LANDSCAPES THAT WILL BE PROTECTED FOREVER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A REAL TREASURE TO THE STATE AND WE REALLY ADORE THE PROGRAM HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

>> THE SUCCESSFUL HIGH COUNTRY RANCH PROJECT IS LOCATED WEST OF THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST IN NEW MEXICO.

>> HIGH COUNTRY RANCH HAS A VERY UNIQUE -- TWO VERY UNIQUE ASPECTS.

ONE IS THE AMOUNT OF TIMBER THAT'S ON THAT RANCH.

THAT WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL OLD GROWTH FORESTS UP THERE.

THE OTHER UNIQUE ASPECT IS THAT IT IS THE HEAD WATERS OF THE RIVER.

A LOT OF THE STREAMS THAT FLOW INTO THE RIVER AND THEN IT FLOWS DOWN INTO THE RIO GRANDE AND DOWN TOWARDS THE CITIES OF SANTE FE AND ALBUQUERQUE.

>> IN SOUTHEAST ARIZONA, THE ARIZONA DIVISION OF FORESTRY PARTNERED WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN A SHOWCASE PROJECT.

THE SAN PEDRO RIVER PROJECT WAS THE FIRST FOREST LEGACY PROJECT IN THE NATION TO FOCUS ON DESERT REPAIRON FORESTS AND ITS MANY ASPECTS INCLUDING MIGRATORY AND ENDANGERED BIRDS AND THE WATER THAT DRAWS THEM TO THE SAN PEDRO RIVER.

CONSERVING THIS FOREST THAT SUPPORTS NEARLY HALF OF ALL U.S.

BIRD SPECIES HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF REPAIRION CORRIDORS IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST.

>> IN THE SOUTHWEST, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF VARIETY IN TERMS OF ELEVATION AND LAND FORM AND VEGETATIVE TYPE.

>> ALL OF THOSE LANDS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE WATERSHEDS AND THEY PROVIDE HABITAT FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF A RICH DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE SPECIES.

IT PROVIDES A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT A VERY IMPORTANT REPAIRION LANDSCAPE.

>> THEY ARE A MIGRATORY HABITAT FOR MANY NEO-TROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES INCLUDING THE ENDANGERED SOUTHWEST FLY CATCHER AND THE THREATENED YELLOW BILL CUCKOO.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WAS A KEY PARTNER BY PROVIDING A LINK BETWEEN THE AGENCIES IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM AND THE LANDOWNERS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THEIR PROPERTY.

>> ONE DAY, WE RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

IT WAS PETER WARREN IN THE TUCSON OFFICE ASKING TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HIM AND OVER LUNCH, THE IDEA OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT THROUGH THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM CAME UP.

WE WERE JUST OVERJOYED.

WE HADN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO DOING ANYTHING ABOUT OUR IDEAS.

BUT HERE IT WAS COMING TO US.

>> HAVING PUT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON OUR PROPERTY THROUGH THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM GIVES US SOME ASSURANCE THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY, THE CONSERVATION VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE MAINTAINED FOR A LONG TIME AFTER WE'RE INVOLVED WITH IT.

>> CONSERVING THESE VALUABLE AND THREATENED FORESTED PROPERTIES IN PERPETUITY HAS TREMENDOUS ECOSYSTEM IMPLICATIONS.

THE PERMANENCE OF THE AGREEMENT HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT DEVELOPS TRUST IN MORE COMPLICATED ARRANGEMENTS.

IN 2016, THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ARRANGED A SUCCESSFUL ARRANGEMENT WITH THE STOLTZ LAND AND LUMBER COMPANY USING FOREST LEGACY FUNDING.

THE 10,000 PROPERTY ADJACENT TO WHITEFISH, MONTANA IS CRITICAL TO ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND PROVIDING CONNECTED HABITAT FOR MANY THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.

>> IT WAS THE RIGHT LOCATION, THE RIGHT PLACE AND THE RIGHT TIME AND IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

>> THIS PROJECT REALLY SHOWED WHAT SUPPORT LEGACY PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT.

IT HAS ALL THE COMPONENTS OF FOREST LEGACY.

IT HAS A STRONG FOREST OF COMPONENT FOR FUTURE LOGGING, PROVIDING JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT HAS ENDANGERED SPECIES.

IT HAS WATER FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WHITEFISH.

THE COMMUNITY IS BEHIND THIS PROJECT.

THEY FLOATED A BOND WHERE THEY'RE HELPING TO PAY FOR THE COST SHARE OF THIS PROJECT.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE ARE PUTTING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY OWNER STILL HAS THE OPTION AND IS ENCOURAGED TO MANAGE THE FOREST AS A WORKING FOREST.

>> WHILE I ADMIRE AND VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM IS IT ALLOWED US TO KEEP OUR LANDS IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.

WE STILL OWN IT AND WE CAN STILL MANAGE IT THE WAY WE WANT TO.

WE CAN TREAT THE FOREST THE WAY WE WANT TO.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT LAND.

>> OUR LANDS ARE PART OF THE AMERICAN TREE FARM SYSTEM.

AND CERTIFIED TO THAT PROGRAM SINCE 1964 AND CONTINUE TO BE CERTIFIED TODAY.

THAT'S THE BASIS OF HOW WE BUILT OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THIS CONSERVATION EASE MENT.

WE OPERATE A SAWMILL AND CO-GENERATIONAL FACILITY THAT PRODUCES ELECTRICITY AND STEAM.

WE PRODUCE ABOUT 60 MILLION MORE FEET A YEAR OF LUMBER.

WE EMPLOY 120 PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE GOOD FAMILY RAISING JOBS.

OUR LITTLE COMPANY PUTS ABOUT $25 TO $30 MILLION OF YEAR WORTH OF SPENDING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> DESPITE PROJECTING THE WATER SOURCE AND ECONOMY, IT WILL PROVIDE A NUMBER OF OTHER IMPORTANT BENEFITS.

>> THE VISION FOR THE WHITEFISH TRAIL IS TO CREATE A 55 MILE LOOP TRAIL SURROUNDING THE LAKE.

THIS PARCEL IS A KEY COMPONENT TO ALLOW US TO KEEP THE TRAIL OFF THE ROAD.

>> THE TRAIL SYSTEM HAS CREATED THE BENEFIT FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE WE WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED.

PEOPLE END UP SPENDING THE DAY, YOU KNOW, OUT ON THE WHITEFISH TRAIL OR EXPLORING THE LANDS, YOU KNOW, WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT AND THEN THEY WALK DOWNTOWN.

THEY GO TO THE RESTAURANTS.

AND SO THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TIME SPENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> THIS PROJECT IS WITHIN CRITICAL LINKS HABITAT, CRITICAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT, ALL THESE THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES PLUS A LOT OF SPECIES OF CONCERN.

THE LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY ROLE OF THIS PROPERTY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

ALL THE FEDERAL LAND ADJOINING IT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS CRITICAL FOR RECOVERY FOR GRIZZLY BEARS AND LINKS FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES AND WE HAVE BOTH OF THOSE SPECIES ON THE PROPERTY.

THEY REQUIRE LARGE UNDEVELOPED LANDSCAPES AND THEY USE HUGE AREAS.

A MALE GRIZZLY BEAR'S HOME RANGE WILL BE OVER 300 SQUARE MILES.

IN THIS MOUNTAINOUS REGION, ALL OF THE HIGH ELEVATION LANDS ARE PUBLIC LANDS.

THE MIDDLE ELEVATION LANDS ARE PRIVATE AND OFTEN CORPORATE TIMBER LANDS AND THE VALLEY BOTTOMS ARE SMALLER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.

GRIZZLY BEAR, UP IN THE HIGH ELEVATION ON A NATIONAL FOREST LANDS BUT IMMEDIATELY COME DOWN IN THE SPRINGTIME TO THE LOW ELEVATION PRIVATE LANDS.

ALL OF THE BIG GAME ANIMALS THAT SPEND THE SUMMERS IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS COME DOWN IN THOSE LOW ELEVATION LANDS AND WINTER ALL YEAR LONG.

SO WITHOUT THAT ENTIRE MATRIX WORKING TOGETHER AND CONSERVE IN A WAY THAT THE ANIMALS CAN CONTINUE TO USE THE LANDSCAPES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT OUR POPULATIONS SO THOSE CRITICAL PRIVATE LANDS PIECES ARE VITAL TO MAINTAINING THOSE POPULATIONS.

>> I REALLY APPLAUD THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM.

I MEAN, IT'S WHAT MADE IT.

ALONG WITH A GENTLEMAN FROM THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS.

HE WAS THE FACILITATOR AND THE ONE DRIVING THE TRAIN AND HE KEPT PUSHING US ON AND WE GOT THERE.

>> AGO HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THESE LANDS HAS MADE US REALIZE THAT WE ACTUALLY -- CONSERVATION IS SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE ON BECAUSE WE ALL BELIEVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS PLACE AND WE WANT TO PROTECT IT.

>> SO I THINK THE BIG THING FOR THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM THAT I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM HAS ADDED, IT RETAINS THESE WORKING LANDSCAPES AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WILDERNESS IN MONTANA AND THERE'S A REAL PLACE FOR THAT.

THERE'S A REAL PLACE FOR THE WORKING LANDSCAPES AS WELL AND I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE LANDS IN THE FUTURE KNOWING WE'LL STILL HAVE A CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY WILDLIFE HABITAT TO PRODUCE THE JOBS THAT SUPPORT OUR ECONOMIES AND OUR SOCIETY.

>> THROUGH WORKING WITH MANY CRITICAL PARTNERS, MORE THAN 2.6 MILLION ACRES OF WORKING FORESTS HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY CONSERVED THROUGH THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM.

WHAT STARTED AS A PROGRAM TO CONSERVE THE NORTHERN FOREST LANDS OF FIVE STATES IN THE EARLY 1990s HAS DRAMATICALLY EVOLVED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.

TODAY, THE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM HELPED STATES AND INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS IDENTIFY AND PROTECT PLACE THAT ARE AT RISK AND IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US FOR A MYRIAD OF REASONS INCLUDING ECONOMICS.

RECREATION.

WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SECURING DRINKING WATER.

THE SAME FLEXIBILITY AND ATTRIBUTES THAT LED TO THIS TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WILL ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND HELP CONSERVE VULNERABLE FOREST AND HABITATS IN THE FUTURE.

>> VERMONT PBS, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE.

FOR MORE, VISIT VERMONTPBS.ORG.