Stop the Transfer of Your National Forest Land
The “Grant Parish Restoration Plan” proposes to transfer all of the Kisatchie National Forest land in Grant Parish to the Grant Parish Police Jury, Grant Parish School Board, or another eligible entity. This includes about 140,000 acres, which constitutes nearly 24% of the Kisatchie National Forest. The Grant Parish Policy Jury stated on May 8, 2026 on their Facebook page that they are not seeking this proposal nor endorsing taking over management of what is Kisatchie National Forest in Grant Parish. Read LWF’s detailed assessment of the proposal for more details.
How can you take action?
- Attend the Grant Parish Police Jury meeting on May 14, 2026 at 5pm at the Courthouse in Colfax. Discussion of this is on the agenda.
- Send a message that you do not support this public lands transfer. Here’s an action alert you can use to tell Senator Cassidy (202-224-5824), Senator Kennedy (202-224-4623), and Representative Mike Johnson (202-225-2777) that you support Kisatchie National Forest in federal management for public lands priorities.
Old Idea, New Tactic
Proposals to transfer federal or state public lands to local or private management are not new. Last year a proposal to transfer millions of acres of public lands in western states was strongly opposed and ultimately withdrawn.
This proposal would amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand eligibility under the federal New Markets Tax Credit program. The proposal is framed as an effort to support rural economic development in low-income areas, particularly in parishes and counties with a high percentage of federal land ownership where traditional development opportunities may be limited. Embedded within that broader tax framework proposal is a separate and significant provision directing the transfer of federal public lands in Louisiana and other federal assets.
The transfer of your federal public land comes with risks:
- Loss of current protections for habitat management governing its use due to the permanent transfer of public land from federal management
- No guarantee that this land will be protected or remain public
- Local entities unable to bear the cost burdens of management
- Allowing uses for a range of “public purposes” that include energy generation, economic development, community development as well as forestry, conservation, and recreation
- No guarantee about the economic outcomes, which depend on future decisions and market conditions
Kisatchie National Forest is a public resource for wildlife habitat, recreational access
Kisatchie National Forest is Louisiana’s only national forest and represents a critical part of the state’s natural resource base. It provides large, contiguous forest habitat across central Louisiana, supports public access for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, protects watersheds, and is managed under long-standing, science-based federal frameworks.
The Catahoula Ranger District of Kisatchie National Forest is extremely popular for hunting and fishing. The area features hiking and motorized trails with people traveling across Louisiana to enjoy recreational areas. Kisatchie National Forest is well-managed and valuable for wildlife and recreational use.
Just as important, Kisatchie is part of the identity of Grant Parish. Many residents live, work, and raise families in this area specifically because of the forest, its open space, access to public land, and the quality of life that comes with it. This is not idle land. It is used, valued, and relied upon by the public every day.
Transfer of public lands means loss of protection that governs its use
The transfer of National Forest System land out of federal ownership weakens established conservation safeguards, creates uncertainty around future land use, and opens the door to development pressures that are not aligned with the protection of wildlife habitat. The long-term health of our forests, our wildlife, and our public trust resources depend on maintaining these lands under stable, conservation-driven management for future generations.
LWF cannot support the transfer of Kisatchie National Forest land and urge you not to support it either. There’s too much to lose.
Louisiana Wildlife Federation has long stood for the protection of wildlife, wildlife habitat, and the responsible stewardship of our state’s natural resources. That mission has guided our work across decades of policy, management, and conservation efforts. Support for public access and the people’s right to enjoy our natural resources is fundamental to our goals.
Learn more about Kistatchie National Forest and the Catahoula Ranger District.