Federal Land Conservation Resources

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides conservation planning and technical assistance to individuals, groups, and units of government. The process addresses opportunities, concerns, and problems related to the use of natural resources that helps keep land healthy. Conservation planning is a natural resource problem-solving and management process that integrates ecological (natural resource), economic, and social considerations to meet private and public needs. This approach identifies desired future conditions, ways to improve natural resource management, minimize conflict, and address problems and opportunities. Many private landowners, particularly agricultural owners, take advantage of this assistance to review management practices and work with professionals that can assist with defining best practices for their property. This assistance can help landowners:

• Maintain and improve private lands and their management
• Implement better land management technologies
• Protect and improve water quality and quantity
• Maintain and improve wildlife and fish habitat
• Enhance recreational opportunities on their land
• Maintain and improve the aesthetic character of private land
• Explore opportunities to diversify agricultural operations and
• Develop and apply sustainable agricultural systems

Although conservation planning does not include financial or cost-share assistance, landowners may develop conservation plans, which can serve as a springboard for those interested in participating in USDA financial assistance programs. Also a conservation plan can serve as a door to financial assistance and easement conservation programs provided by other Federal, State, and local programs. To receive technical assistance, landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) is a voluntary program that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Through the FRPP, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local governments, and non-governmental organizations, such as land trusts, to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners in order to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural use. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market easement value of the conservation easement and often state and local sources can be added to this amount to increase the return to the landowner.

Participating landowners agree not to convert their land to non-agricultural uses and to develop and implement a conservation plan for any highly erodible land. To qualify, farmland must: be sponsored by a state or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan for highly erodible land; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production. If interested, landowners should contact their local land trust, state or local land protection program or NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages agricultural and forestry operators to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones. Through CSP, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used for the production of livestock) on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed.

CSP offers participants two possible types of payments:

1. Annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities; and
    
2. Supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations. Each CSP contract is limited to not more than $200,000.

Landowners interested in CSP are encouraged to begin the application process by completing a self-screening checklist. The checklist helps a potential applicant determine whether CSP is the right program for them. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

Under the Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain Easement Program (EWP), NRCS will purchase a permanent conservation easement from a willing landowner that provides the NRCS with the ability to restore and enhance the floodplain’s functions and values. Eligible floodplain lands include those that have been impaired within the last 12 months or that have a history of repeated flooding (i.e., flooded at least two times during the past 10 years).

The value that is paid for the easement is the lowest of three values established for WRP as an easement payment that include:

1. A value based on a market analysis,
    
2. A geographic rate established by the NRCS State Conservationist or
    
3. A landowner offer.

Landowners retain traditional use and enjoyment of the property, including the right to control public access and recreational uses such as hunting and fishing. In addition, landowners may obtain authorization from NRCS to engage in other activities, provided that NRCS determines it will further the protection and enhancement of the easement’s floodplain functions and values. These compatible uses may include managed timber harvest, periodic haying, or grazing. NRCS determines the amount, method, timing, intensity, and duration of any compatible use that might be authorized. While a landowner can realize economic returns from an activity allowed for on the easement area, a landowner is not assured of any specific level or frequency of such use, and the authorization does not vest any right of any kind to the landowner.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from active agriculture.

WHIP offers three enrollment options to landowners: 

1. A permanent conservation easement protecting the land from development. USDA pays up to 100 percent of the easement value and up to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
    
2. A 30-Year easement that expires in thirty years for which USDA will pay up to 75 percent of the easement value and up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
    
3. A restoration cost-share agreement to restore or enhance wetland functions and values without placing an easement on the enrolled acres. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.

WHIP cost-share agreements between NRCS and the participant generally last from one year after the last conservation practice is implemented but not more than 10 years from the date the agreement is signed. WHIP has proven very effective in assisting conservation oriented landowners with habitat improvements that otherwise would have been too costly to consider. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary program for landowners and agricultural operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland. Grassland includes rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands. GRP emphasizes support for working agricultural and grazing operations, enhancement of plant and animal biodiversity, and protection of grassland and land containing shrubs and forbs under threat of conversion to other uses. Participants voluntarily limit future development and cropping uses of the land while retaining the right to conduct common grazing practices and operations related to the production of forage and seedlings, subject to certain restrictions during nesting seasons of bird species that are in significant decline or are protected under Federal or State law. Participants may conduct fire rehabilitation and construct firebreaks and fences. Each state establishes ranking criteria that consider threats of conversion such as cropping, invasive species, urban development, and other activities that threaten plant and animal diversity on grazing lands. A grazing management plan must be developed as part of any GRP investment.

GRP enrollment options include:

1. Rental Contract. Participants may choose a 10-year, 15-year, or 20-year contract. USDA will provide annual payments in an amount that is not more than 75 percent of the grazing value established by the Farm Service Agency. Payments will not exceed $50,000 per year per person or legal entity and will be disbursed annually.
    
2. Permanent Easement. The conservation easements are perpetual, or the maximum length allowed by State law. Easement compensation will not exceed fair market value, less the grazing value of the land encumbered by the easement. “Grazing value” means the financial worth of the land used for grazing or forage production. Easement compensation will be the lowest of an area-wide market survey or appraisal, a Geographic Area Rate Cap, or the landowner offer.
    
3. Restoration Agreement. Certain grassland easements or rental contracts may be eligible for cost-share assistance up to 50 percent of the cost to re-establish grassland functions and values where the land has been degraded or converted to other uses. Participants may contribute to the application of a cost-share practice through in-kind contributions. The combined total cost-share provided by all sources may not exceed 100 percent of the total actual cost of restoration. Payments may not exceed $50,000 per year per person or legal entity.

This program is relatively new but offers the potential to be as popular with landowners as the FRPP program. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture. This program has proven to be very popular with conservation oriented landowners that desire to improve or restore wetlands on their property.

The WRP offers three enrollment options that are similar to WHIP:

1. A Permanent Conservation Easement for which USDA will pay up to 100 percent of the easement value and up to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
    
2. A 30-Year Easement is a conservation easement that expires after 30 years. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the easement value and up to 75 percent of the restoration costs. For both permanent and 30-year easements, USDA pays all costs associated with recording the easement, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance.
    
3. Restoration Cost-Share Agreement is an agreement to restore or enhance the wetland functions and values without placing an easement on the enrolled acres. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the restoration costs.

Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes the compatible goals of agricultural production and environmental quality. EQIP provides financial and technical help to assist participants install or implement structural and management practices on their agricultural land. EQIP structures contracts, up to a maximum term of ten years, to provide financial assistance to implement conservation practices. Program practices and activities are carried out according to an EQIP program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or measures needed to address the resource concerns.

EQIP provides payments of up to 75 percent of the incurred costs and income foregone of covered conservation practices and activities. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for technical assistance needed for eligible activities and services. Except in unusual circumstances, payments for improvements and activities cannot exceed $300,000 for all activities during any six-year period. This program has proven to be very popular with conservation oriented landowners that desire to improve and change land management practices. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners that provide annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland. The CRP encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or riparian buffers. Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year contract, usually for a ten to fifteen-year period. Rental contracts are awarded on a competitive basis with those projects that supply the greatest environmental benefit receiving the highest ratings. Cost sharing for up to 50 percent of the participant's costs in establishing approved conservation or improved vegetative cover practices is also provided. The program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and annual rental payments are based on the agriculture rental value of the land. CRP is administered by the Farm Service Agency, with NRCS providing technical land eligibility determinations, conservation planning and practice implementation. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS or FSA office or the local conservation district.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife is a national program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect, enhance and restore important fish and wildlife habitats on private lands. Through partnerships with private landowners the program offers a chance to regain some of America’s most important natural resources. This voluntary cost-share program builds on the strength and interest of committed individuals and organizations to accomplish shared conservation goals. If interested contact your local or state office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of Interior.

The Private Stewardship Program provides grants and other assistance on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservation efforts that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species. If interested contact your local or state office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of Interior.

The Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is a voluntary program established for the purpose of restoring and enhancing forest ecosystems to:

1. Promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species,
2. Improve biodiversity, and
3. Enhance carbon sequestration.

The HFRP offers three enrollment options:

1. A 10-year cost-share agreement for which the landowner may receive 50 percent of the average cost of the approved conservation practices.
    
2. A 30-year easement, for which the landowner may receive 75 percent of the easement value of the enrolled land plus 75 percent of the average cost of the approved conservation practices.
    
3. An easement of not more than 99-years, for which landowner may receive 100 percent of the easement value of the enrolled land plus 100 percent of the average cost of the approved conservation practices.

To be eligible for enrollment, land must be private land or Tribal lands which will restore, enhance, or measurably increase the likelihood of recovery of a threatened or endangered species, must improve biological diversity, or increase carbon sequestration. Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office or local or state office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Department of Interior.