1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 . 2. Forest Conservation Easement Program (a) In general Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subtitle I ( 16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq. ) as subtitle J; and (2) by inserting after subtitle H ( 16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq. ) the following: I Forest Conservation Easement Program 1267. Establishment and purposes (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a forest conservation easement program for the conservation and restoration of eligible land and natural resources through the acquisition of conservation easements or other interests in land. (b) Purposes The purposes of the program are— (1) to protect the viability and sustainability of forest land and related ecological and human conservation values of eligible land by limiting the negative impacts of non-forest land uses; (2) to protect and enhance forest ecosystem and landscape functions and values; (3) to promote the restoration, protection, and improvement of habitat of threatened and endangered species and other at-risk species; (4) to maintain and enhance biodiversity; (5) to enhance carbon sequestration; (6) to protect and restore watersheds for water quality and quantity improvements; (7) to prevent encroachment around military bases and installations; and (8) to carry out the purposes and functions of the healthy forests reserve program established under title V of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6571 et seq. ), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this section. 1267A. Definitions In this subtitle: (1) Beginning forest landowner The term beginning forest landowner means a person that— (A) (i) has not previously owned forest land; or (ii) has owned forest land for not more than 10 years