Policy Priorities
Policy Priorities
The Forest Landowners Association advocates for federal policies supporting family forest owners, who manage the majority of U.S. forests. We collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders on tax, property rights, disaster recovery, and market access initiatives.
Our Policy Focus Areas:
Private Property Rights
We defend private property rights and landowner flexibility. This promotes forest health, wildlife habitats, environmental quality, and job creation – all vital to our nation.
Market Access
We support policies to enhance timber market access for landowners, both domestically and globally. We also promote their entry into emerging markets, fostering economic sustainability and effective forest management.
Regulatory Policies
We fight for regulatory policies that do not impose undue economic burdens on forest landowners.
Tax Certainty
We advocate for fair, consistent federal tax policies that enable private forest landowners to maintain practices yielding vital economic and environmental benefits.
Disaster Recovery
We support policies to enhance timber market access for landowners, both domestically and globally. We also promote their entry into emerging markets, fostering economic sustainability and effective forest management.
While these are our primary focus areas, we remain committed to collaborating with partner organizations on additional initiatives to ensure the health and resiliency of our forests.
FLA Policy News:
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…
National Associations Call on Congress to Prioritize Disaster Relief for Private Forest Landowners
Washington, D.C. – The Forest Landowners Association (FLA), along with other national organizations representing forestry and the forest products sector, have called on Congress to include robust disaster assistance for private forest landowners in upcoming relief legislation. In a coalition letter sent to Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders, these organizations emphasized the critical need…
FLA Commends Senate Agriculture Committee’s Release of the 2024 Farm Bill
The Forest Landowners Association (FLA) applauds Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and the Senate Agriculture Committee for unveiling the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, commonly known as the Farm Bill. This landmark legislation provides essential support for rural economies, conservation initiatives, and disaster recovery, delivering critical tools for private forest landowners. FLA is…
Forest Landowners Association Commends Bipartisan Push for Comprehensive Disaster Recovery
The Forest Landowners Association (FLA), representing family forest landowners across 43 states, commends the recent bipartisan, bicameral efforts advocating for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene. These initiatives align with FLA’s ongoing work to develop a robust safety net for private forest landowners. Scott Jones, FLA’s CEO, emphasized the critical nature of these efforts: “Recent natural…
FLA Champions Fix Our Forests Act: Bipartisan Victory in House
In a significant victory for forest management, H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support on September 24, 2024. This landmark bill, co-sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA), marks a crucial advancement in forest management policies that…
Service Lists Pearl River Map Turtle as Threatened
On July 12th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a final rule designating the Pearl River map turtle as threatened under the Endangered Species Act with a tailored 4(d) rule for take prohibitions. This rule goes into effect on August 12, 2024. Read the final rule here. This rule lists four other map turtle…