The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work despite the pandemic and numerous natural disasters. During the past couple of years, they’ve helped agricultural producers and forest landowners implement conservation practices on their working lands. These efforts by NRCS helped conserve natural resources such as soil, water and wildlife while delivering climate solutions and boosting producers’ bottom lines.
Through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), NRCS helped producers protect sensitive landscapes, including wetlands, grasslands and prime farmlands, providing many natural resource benefits. This included nearly 86,000 acres in ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) and over 289,000 acres in ACEP Agricultural Land Easements.
Through both the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), NRCS co-invested $580 million with partners, expanding the reach and improving the effectiveness of conservation. For both RCPP and CIG, NRCS prioritized projects focused on underserved producers and climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
This year, NRCS will continue to prioritize climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation practices. Visit the NRCS Priorities webpage to learn more.