S. 2566 — Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act

This section revises the Forest Legacy Program—under which the Secretary of Agriculture acquires conservation easements and other interests in forest lands threatened by conversion to nonforest uses, in cooperation with states, to protect scenic, cultural, fish and wildlife, recreational, riparian, and other ecological values—to authorize any state (from the State of Vermont), upon request, to approve qualified organizations (i.e., accredited land trusts organized for conservation purposes, with no relevant enforcement actions) to acquire, hold, and manage such easements. Qualified organizations must demonstrate abilities to acquire, monitor, and enforce easements consistent with the program and the state's assessment of need; easements revert to the state or another eligible organization if the holder cannot fulfill responsibilities, modifies the easement inconsistently with program purposes or the state's assessment, or conveys it improperly. This section also makes technical corrections to cross-references, punctuation, and the appropriations subsection heading.