Florida Landowners Encouraged to Apply for Financial Assistance Programs through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Applications will be accepted through April 5, 2024

March 4, 2024

Gainesville, Florida – Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values and practices have an opportunity to apply for Entity Held Conservation Easements opportunities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) beginning March 4 through April 5, 2024.

The NRCS and ACT will accept applications for the fiscal year 2024 through the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. The program promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners who offer value-added contributions to expand their collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. As part of these RCPP projects, NRCS and its partners have funding to pay landowners for conservation easements placed upon their land.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) will be involved in potential match negotiations. NRCS and ACT will be responsible for screening for land eligibility, coordinating appropriately to determine the proper entity holder, negotiating conservation easement terms, and/or developing a land management plan. Applications received after April 5 will be considered for the following sign-up period, as funding allows.

ACT leads two RCPP projects in North Florida: 1) Surface to Springs and 2) Forest to Gulf. These projects target conservation funding and resources to protection of wildlife habitat, surface and ground water, and working grasslands and forests. Those who are within and/or touching the projects’ boundaries are eligible. Lands outside of these areas will not be eligible. The counties included (all or in part) are: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, and Union.

Landowners who applied for the recent FDACS Rural and Family  Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) cycle are encouraged to apply for potential match opportunities. The state’s RFLPP partners with ACT and others when federal funds, such as RCPP, are involved. Those funding partnerships help move projects into a priority work plan for the FDACS, which means the conservation easements can be acquired more quickly.

The RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. The program promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners who offer value-added contributions to expand their collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. As part of these RCPP projects, NRCS and its partners have funding to pay landowners for conservation easements placed upon their land.

Due to the complex nature of these projects, landowners interested in these funding opportunities are strongly encouraged to reach out for guidance in the options available prior to applying. Applicants will need to take appropriate steps necessary to establish farm records and certifications.

Application Requirements:

• Establish/update farm records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for the applicant and the land.

• Be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements.

• Applicable documentation required for signature authority.

• Have control of land, where “control” means possession of the land by ownership, lease, or other agreement.

• Be compliant with provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers.

The NRCS and ACT encourage landowners and farmers who are historically underserved (HU) to apply. HU farmers are defined as farmers who are beginners, socially disadvantaged, or veterans, and/or who have limited resources.

Participating in the RCPP and RFLPP programs helps secure the future of the nation’s food supply, prevents land with high conservation value from being developed or converted to a non-agricultural use, and provides public benefits including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat, and protection of open space.

If you are a landowner interested in conserving your land in partnership with ACT and NRCS, please contact:

• ACT at 352- 373-1078 or by email at forest2gulfrcpp@alachuaconservationtrust.org or surface2springsrcpp@alachuaconservationtrust.org, or

• Michael Ruiz, NRCS RCPP-Easements, at michael.ruiz@usda.gov or (352) 338-9566

The RCPP land management programs applications are open now through Friday, April 5th.

ABOUT NRCS RCPP

Since inception, RCPP has made 717 awards involving over 4,000 partner organizations.

Inflation Reduction Act Boosts Voluntary Conservation Programs. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA has enrolled more farmers and more acres in voluntary conservation programs than at any point in history, following a backlog that has existed for years. In 2023, USDA enrolled nearly 5,300 additional producers in conservation programs across all 50 states (above what otherwise would have been possible through Farm Bill and appropriations funding), which will provide significant climate mitigation benefits. This includes:

●      $100 million through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP);

●      $250 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP); and

●      $250 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) partner through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns in the Surface to Springs and Forest to Gulf RCPP Project Areas.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.