Selection Criteria and Scoring Guide
Application Period:
Sept. 1, 2026, through Jan. 8, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
Scoring Criteria
(1) General scoring rules.
(a) Except as otherwise indicated, for each criterion an application will receive either zero points or the maximum possible points for the criterion.
(b) When any criterion is scored relative to a parcel’s county, for parcels located in multiple counties, characteristics specific to the parcel are scored as to the one county for each criterion that may afford an application the greatest number of points.
(c) When any criterion is scored relative to a parcel’s owner, for parcels owned by multiple owners, characteristics specific to the owner are scored as to the one or first owner identified in the application for the program.
(2) Universal selection criteria. Maximum 130 points.
(a) Points awarded relative to the parcel.
1. Population. An application may receive up to 10 points based on the percentage increase in population of the Tennessee county in which the parcel is located, using the two most recent federal decennial censuses available before the opening of the application period. The percentage change will be calculated by subtracting the older census population from the newer census population, dividing the result by the older census population, and multiplying by 100. No points will be awarded for a population change of 0% or less. Points will be awarded as follows:
(i) more than 0% up to and including 1% = 2 points;
(ii) more than 1% up to and including 2% = 4 points;
(iii) more than 2% up to and including 5% = 6 points;
(iv) more than 5% up to and including 10% = 8 points; or
(v) more than 10% increase = 10 points.
2. Development pressure. As determined by the most recent tiered Tennessee Job Tax Credit map published by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development before the opening of the application period, up to 30 points may be awarded. An application will receive base points according to the enhancement-county tier of the Tennessee county in which the parcel is located, plus any additional adjoining-county points awarded under this criterion. The total development-pressure score is the sum of the base county points and the adjoining-county points, not to exceed 30 points.
(i) Tier 1 Enhancement Counties = 5 points;
(ii) Tier 2 Enhancement Counties = 20 points;
(iii) Tier 3 Enhancement Counties = 10 points;
(iv) Tier 4 Enhancement Counties = 5 points; and
(v) The application will also receive additional points equal to 50% of the highest base point value assigned to any one Tennessee county adjoining the parcel county, rounded to the nearest whole point, with half points rounded up. For this criterion, an adjoining county is a Tennessee county that shares a common boundary line with the county in which the parcel is located.
Example: If a Tier 4 county worth 5 points adjoins a Tier 2 county worth 20 points, the score is 5 + 0.5(20) = 15 points.
3. Parcel acreage. An application may receive up to 40 points based on the total acreage of the parcel. No points will be awarded under this criterion for a parcel containing fewer than 15 acres. Points will be awarded as follows:
(i) at least 15 acres up to and including 25 acres = 5 points;
(ii) more than 25 acres up to and including 50 acres = 12 points;
(iii) more than 50 acres up to and including 150 acres = 25 points;
(iv) more than 150 acres up to and including 300 acres = 35 points; or
(v) more than 300 acres = 40 points.
Example: A 25-acre parcel receives 5 points; a 25.1-acre parcel receives 12 points; a 150-acre parcel receives 25 points; and a 300-acre parcel receives 35 points.
4. Proximity to protected land. An application may receive 10 points total if the parcel shares a boundary line with one or more of the following. Points awarded under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 10 points under this criterion.
(i) a Tennessee state forest, as defined under T.C.A. § 11-4-103;
(ii) a Tennessee state natural area designated under T.C.A. § 11-14-108;
(iii) a Tennessee state park, as defined under T.C.A. § 11-3-101;
(iv) a state wildlife management area or refuge, as defined under T.C.A. § 70-1-101;
(v) property listed in the U.S. Geological Survey Protected Areas Database; or
(vi) property subject to an existing permanent conservation easement.
5. At-risk or distressed counties. An application may receive five points total if any portion of the parcel is located in a county designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission as either at-risk or distressed in the most recently completed fiscal year report available before the opening of the application period. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than five points under this criterion, regardless of the number of at-risk or distressed counties the parcel is located within.
(b) Points awarded relative to the parcel owner(s).
1. Estate planning. An application may receive 15 points total if all current owners of the parcel submit an attestation stating that each owner has a written land succession or estate-planning document addressing the transition of the owner’s interest in the parcel upon the owner’s death or, for an entity owner, dissolution. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 15 points under this criterion, regardless of the number of current owners. If any current owner does not provide the required attestation, no points shall be awarded under this criterion.
2. Willingness to donate percentage of appraised value. An application may receive up to 20 points based on the percentage of appraised conservation easement value that the applicant states in the application it is willing to donate or forgo as part of the proposed transaction. No points shall be awarded for a stated donation percentage of 0%. The stated donation percentage shall be considered the applicant’s minimum committed donation percentage for purposes of the application and any resulting grant award. Points will be awarded as follows:
(i) more than 0% up to and including 20% = 5 points;
(ii) more than 20% up to and including 30% = 10 points; or
(iii) more than 30% = 20 points.
(3) Agricultural land application selection criteria. Maximum 70 points.
(a) Points relative to the parcel.
1. Soil classification. An application may receive up to 15 points if at least 50% of the parcel consists of soils classified by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil survey data as prime farmland or farmland of statewide importance. The percentage shall be calculated by dividing the acreage of qualifying soils by the total acreage of the parcel and multiplying by 100. No points shall be awarded under this criterion if less than 50% of the parcel consists of qualifying soils. Points will be awarded as follows:
(i) at least 50% and up to and including 65% = 5 points;
(ii) more than 65% and up to and including 80% = 10 points; or
(iii) more than 80% = 15 points.
2. Management plan. An application may receive 10 points total if the parcel is subject to a current nutrient management plan, a current farm plan developed in consultation with University of Tennessee Extension, or a current conservation plan developed or facilitated through technical assistance from USDA NRCS. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 10 points under this criterion, regardless of the number of plans a parcel is subject to.
3. Agricultural districting. An application may receive five points total if any portion of the parcel is located within or enrolled in an agricultural district designated by the local soil and water conservation district pursuant to T.C.A. §§ 43-34-101 et seq. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than five points under this criterion, regardless of the number of agricultural districts a parcel is located or enrolled in.
4. Century farm registration. An application may receive five points total if the parcel is part of a Century Farm registered through the Tennessee Century Farms Program administered through the Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation.
5. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) program participation. An application may receive five points total if the applicant provides an FSA receipt or other FSA documentation showing that, during the twelve months preceding the application, the parcel was associated with the filing of FSA Form 578, Report of Acreage, or participation in the Livestock Indemnity Program. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than five points under this criterion, regardless of the number of FSA receipts or documents the applicant can provide.
6. Implementation of best management practices. An application may receive two points for each distinct best management practice category implemented on the parcel during the five years preceding the application, up to a maximum of 10 points total under this criterion. A best management practice category may be counted only once, regardless of how many times that practice was implemented on the parcel. Qualifying categories are:
(i) livestock exclusion fence;
(ii) riparian herbaceous buffer;
(iii) riparian forest buffer;
(iv) streambank and shoreline protection;
(v) grassed waterway;
(vi) grade stabilization structure;
(vii) water and sediment control basin; and
(viii) grazing management.
(b) Points relative to the owner.
1. Master programs and other certifications. An application may receive 10 points total if the owner of the parcel holds a certificate of completion, issued within the five years preceding the application, for one or more of the following. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 10 points under this criterion, regardless of the number of qualifying certificates, programs or classes.
(i) Tennessee State University New Farmer Academy;
(ii) University of Tennessee Farming Fundamentals Program; or
(iii) University of Tennessee Master Producer Classes:
(I) Backyard Poultry,
(II) Beef,
(III) Beekeeping,
(IV) Commercial Poultry,
(V) Dairy,
(VI) Farm Family Health and Wellness,
(VII) Farm Manager,
(VIII) Forage,
(IX) Horse,
(X) Nursery,
(XI) Row Crop, or
(XII) Small Ruminant.
2. Young/beginning farmer. An application may receive 10 points total if the owner of the parcel is less than 35 years of age on the application submission date. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 10 points under this criterion, regardless of the number of qualifying owners.
(4) Forest land application selection criteria. Maximum 70 points.
(a) Points relative to the parcel.
1. Forest Legacy Priority Area. An application may receive 20 points total if any portion of the proposed conservation easement parcel is located within, or shares a common boundary line with, a Forest Legacy Priority Area designated by the Department’s Forest Legacy Program.
2. Tree farm system certification. An application may receive 20 points total if the proposed conservation easement parcel is covered by a current certification through the American Tree Farm System, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, or Forest Stewardship Council. Points under this criterion are not cumulative, and an application may receive no more than 20 points under this criterion, regardless of the number of qualifying certifications covering the parcel.
3. Site index. An application may receive up to 10 points based on the 50-year site index for the parcel, calculated according to accepted forestry industry standards for the applicable index tree species. No points shall be awarded for a site index of less than 65 feet. Points will be awarded as follows:
(i) at least 65 feet and up to and including 90 feet = 5 points; and
(ii) more than 90 feet = 10 points.
4. Implementation of best management practices. An application may receive two points for each distinct forestry best management practice category implemented on the parcel during the five years preceding the application, up to a maximum of 10 points total under this criterion. A best management practice category may be counted only once, regardless of how many times that practice was implemented on the parcel. Qualifying categories are:
(i) installation of forest road drainage features;
(ii) establishment and designation of Streamside Management Zones adjacent to intermittent and perennial streams;
(iii) planting or management of riparian forest buffers;
(iv) stabilization and revegetation of disturbed areas, including log landings and skid trails;
(v) installation of temporary sediment control features;
(vi) use and installation of permanent or temporary stream crossing structures;
(vii) retirement of temporary haul roads and skid trails; or
(viii) implemented strategies to minimize negative impact to sensitive areas and wetlands.
(b) Points relative to the owner. An application may receive five points if the owner of the parcel holds one qualifying forestry-related membership, certification, certificate or accreditation listed below, or 10 points if the owner holds two or more qualifying items listed below. An application may receive no more than 10 points total under this criterion. Qualifying items are:
1. Membership in a state-wide forestry association;
2. Membership in a county forestry association;
3. Certification as a prescribed burn manager, as defined under T.C.A. § 11-4-1002;
4. Certification as a master logger, as defined under T.C.A. § 69-3-138;
5. Certificate of completion for the University of Tennessee Master Forest Steward curriculum; or
6. Accreditation as a forester by the Society of American Foresters or by any state accreditation program.
Scoring Model
- Each application is scored using Universal Criteria plus either Agricultural Land Criteria or Forest Land Criteria.
- Universal Criteria maximum: 130 points.
- Agricultural Land Criteria maximum: 70 points.
- Forest Land Criteria maximum: 70 points.
- Maximum score for an agricultural-land application: 200 points.
- Maximum score for a forest-land application: 200 points.
- Agricultural and forest criteria must not be combined for the same application.