For most African American and rural landowners, retaining family land is about more than economic impact. Retaining land through effective management is about securing a legacy of holistic generational wealth and resilience for years to come.
The SFLR Network exists to come alongside landowners who are at risk of land loss and to journey with them in seeing their land grow into a viable, dynamic and enriching family asset.
Between 1910 and 1997, there was a 90% decline in African American-owned farmland.
In the early 2000s, African American land ownership is estimated to have dropped from 15-19 million acres in the 1920s to about 2.5 million acres.
African American landowners have lost land at three times the rate of comparable landowners.
Complications with land ownership related to heirs’ property issues disproportionately affect African American families in the U.S. South as heirs’ property accounts for approximately 33% of land owned by African Americans.
To address this land loss and to strengthen African American land stewardship, the USDA launched the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention (SFLR) Network in 2012, creating a way for landowners to maintain their heritage and build family wealth through forestry.
The impact of our work in stopping African American land loss and growing wealth has been far-reaching. Thousands of landowners across 8 U.S. States have been assisted with land conservation for future generational wealth.
The USDA U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Regional Forester’s (Region 8) Honor Award for Delivering State and Private Forestry Programs in 2019.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships in 2018.
The USDA’s highest honor, the Abraham Lincoln Award for protecting natural resources in 2016.
The SFLR Network creates a system of support for African American and rural forest owners that significantly increases the value of forests, land retention, and asset development for rural families in the U.S. South.
Since our inception, the SFLR Network has improved forest management and forest retention by connecting African American landowners with established networks of local forestry support. This includes federal and state government programs, businesses, non-profit conservation, legal, community development organizations.
Our Network supports landowners by:
Our team is committed to advancing the mission of our dynamic network partners. We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, want to get involved, or need more information about our network partners, our team is here to help.
