U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, on Thursday introduced legislation to authorize states to allow "qualified organizations" to acquire, hold and manage forestland conservation easements purchased with federal Forest Legacy Program funding, according to the Library of Congress government information web site.

A qualified organization "must demonstrate ... the ability necessary to acquire, monitor, and enforce interests in forest management consistent with the Forest Legacy Program," the legislation reads.

Under a conservation easement, the property owner agrees to specified actions, such as agreeing not to develop the property or agreeing to open the property to public recreation, without relinquishing ownership of the property.

State-held conservation easements have figured commonly in New York's open space strategy in the Adirondack Park in recent decades.

The proposed legislation, on the surface, would appear to provide the state more options to undertake that strategy, said Willie Janeway, executive director of the Adirondack Council, an environmental lobbying organization.

"If, as it appears, this bill allows a reliable established not-for-profit organization such as The Nature Conservancy or the Conservation Fund to receive federal funding and hold conservation easements acquired through the Forest Legacy Program, with appropriate safeguards, then we support it," Janeway said. "Only states can accept funding and hold easements now. Some flexibility would be good to ensure states like New York don't miss important conservation opportunities when federal funds are available but state government isn't able to act in time."

Tom Flanagin, the congresswoman's spokesman, said Stefanik will be releasing more information about the legislation soon.

The legislation -- HR 344 -- did not yet have any co-sponsors, as of Tuesday morning.