USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Alabama State Conservationist Ben Malone announced a collaborative effort to reach forestry landowners will continue in West Alabama. NRCS Alabama will partner with the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Federation of Southern Cooperatives (FSC), the Limited Resource Landowners Educational and Assistance Network (LRLEAN), and the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) to provide assistance to forest landowners in 11 counties.
Landowners in Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox Counties are encouraged to apply for Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs) and practices through the forestry initiative by January 21, 2018.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) was awarded an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) agreement under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to demonstrate sustainable forestry technologies and create a support system and market access to historically underserved landowners in Alabama.
Several landowners have enrolled in the initiative and are working to preserve, restore and enhance forestland on their properties. Over the last four fiscal years, more than $1,000,000 was obligated to fund 173 contracts in the 11 county area.
“This partnership has been a success and we believe these investments help strengthen rural communities one landowner at a time,” said NRCS State Conservationist Ben Malone. “Land returned to healthy forests will have beneficial conservation and environmental impacts for years to come.”
Although applications are accepted all year, producers should submit applications by January 21, 2018 to ensure they are considered for this year’s funding. NRCS field offices are listed in the telephone directory under U.S. Department of Agriculture or on-line at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov. For more information, contact the FSC (205) 652-9676 or LRLEAN at lrlean.5@gmail.com. To learn more about this initiative and to view landowner testimonials, watch this video.
Growing Communities Through Forestry to Protect a Precious Legacy
Description | USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama is partnering with the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the Alabama Forestry Commission to improve access to funding that assists minority forest landowners. The success of this endeavor relies on the local influence of community groups, LRLEAN and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. These groups’ ability to build awareness and trust in the federal process has made all the difference for families and community sustainability in Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Learn More: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/…