Forest Landowners Associations Calls on Congress to Pass Disaster Recovery for Private Forest Landowners

[Washington, D.C.] — The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) has been at the forefront of advocating for disaster recovery solutions for private forest landowners since 2018, emphasizing the unique challenges they face when natural disasters devastate their forests.

Unlike other agricultural producers, private forest landowners lack access to essential recovery programs like crop insurance or direct disaster relief. FLA is calling on Congress to address this critical gap to ensure the recovery of private forests and the communities they sustain.

“Without congressional action, the recovery process for private forest landowners will remain at risk,” said Scott Jones, CEO of FLA. “This jeopardizes not only the livelihoods of forest landowners but also rural economies, wildlife habitats, and critical carbon sequestration efforts.”

Private forests are a cornerstone of rural America, generating jobs, supporting community programs through tax revenue, and providing essential environmental benefits such as clean air, clean water, and diverse wildlife habitats. Their sustainable management depends on equipping landowners with the tools to recover and reforest after disasters.

FLA urges lawmakers to provide recovery solutions that safeguard the long-term health and sustainability of these forests before the start of 2025. Protecting private forests is not just vital for landowners—it is essential for the economic and environmental resilience of the entire nation.

For more information on this issue and how Congress can help, read our Disaster Recovery Policy Recommendations.

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