For eligible Alabama producers interested in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program’s (ACEP) Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) components, a reminder April 15th is the signup deadline for 2019 funding.
In a release, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone, said “We are looking to work with landowners and partners to help us expand our work on critical wetlands and agricultural land in Alabama and gain results that will showcase how important conservation is for these areas.”
Under the WRE component, financial assistance is available for landowners to enhance and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. The voluntary nature of NRCS’ easement programs allows effective integration of wetland restoration on working landscapes, providing benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program, as well as benefits to their communities.
Under the ALE component, funding will protect agricultural lands by limiting non-agricultural uses. NRCS partners with approved state or local units of government, and certain nongovernmental organizations who arrange for the purchase of development rights through conservation easements on private lands. The entity holds and manages these conservation easements in perpetuity.
To learn more stop by your local NRCS office or go to the Alabama NRCS website.