Forest and Rangeland Taxation Meeting

August 4-5, 2026 
Duke University, Durham, NC 

Forests and rangelands provide food, forage, energy, timber, regulation of air and water quality, sequestration and storage of carbon, and habitat for wildlife. Many of these lands face threats from unsustainable production systems, natural disturbance, conversion to other land uses and lack of investment and management. Tax policy is among the primary tools used by U.S. federal and state governments for incentivizing retention and management of forest and rangelands and to ease the financial burden on farmers, ranchers, and forest owners of managing these lands. However, the efficacy of these incentives is plagued by poor understanding and low utilization among landowners, lack of empirical evidence to understand impacts and design options, misalignment of program characteristics with landowner objectives, and various practical uncertainties. 
 
This meeting seeks to initiate a dialogue incorporating research, extension/education, and practical perspectives on forest and rangeland taxation. We aim to explore the novel and unknown in terms of law, emerging markets, societal trends, and more. These may include taxes imposed by any level of government (local, state, federal) and on any basis (e.g., income, property, severance, estate, sales) and related issues (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes) that impact forests and rangelands. Bridging the gap between academic research and on-the-ground land management is essential to leveraging new knowledge in actionable ways. Ultimately, we hope this conference will begin a process in which we identify gaps in knowledge, education, and practice and strategies to address them; create connections among professionals in these areas; and attract new professionals to the field. 
 
We invite participants of various backgrounds, including researchers, extension educators, representatives of landowner/producer associations, technical service providers, students, and more. The agenda will blend offered presentations with curated speakers and panels. 
Topics of potential interest include, but are not limited to:  For more information, contact Gregory E. Frey, US Forest Service Southern Research Station, 919-549-4025.