The Endowment’s Forest Landowner Support work began in 2012 with the launch of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention (SFLR) Network. Founded by the Endowment in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the USDA Forest Service, SFLR was created to address the loss of African American-owned forest land and help families overcome longstanding barriers to forestry resources and markets.

Trusted community-based organizations were central to this approach, connecting landowners with forestry professionals, financial assistance, and resources to help secure ownership and manage their forest land.

Today, Forest Landowner Support builds on that foundation to serve small, non-industrial private forest landowners. The Endowment works through community-based partners whose established relationships and local knowledge allow them to reach landowners and earn their trust. These partners connect families with legal assistance, public funding, forest management expertise, and market opportunities to help them improve forest health, retain their land, and build generational wealth. By supporting these organizations, the Endowment strengthens the local networks that help families sustain their forest assets and contribute to thriving communities.