The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) is accepting applications for 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 RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns.
NRCS will offer partner assisted conservation in three different project areas:
- Alachua Conservation Trust “Forest to Gulf”
- Alachua Conservation Trust “Surface to Springs”
- Tall Timbers “Red Hills to the Coast”
Alachua Conservation Trust – Forest to Gulf:
The project area includes portions of Alachua, Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Marion, Putnam and Sumter Counties.
The focus of the project is to provide financial assistance to manage forest, grazing and some crop land to improve wildlife habitat, benefit listed species, increase water recharge, and prevent nutrients and sediment from reaching groundwater and watershed protection.
Priority practices include but are not limited to: prescribed burning, tree planting, brush management, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, irrigation water management, nutrient management, cover crops and pasture and hay planting.
For additional information contact: Alachua Conservation Trust at 352-373-1078 or
Forest2GulfRCPP@alachuaconservationtrust.org
Alachua Conservation Trust – Surface to Springs:
The project area includes portions of Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee and Union Counties.
The focus of the project is to promote long term land protection, conserve water, improve wildlife habitat, restore and protect rare natural communities and watershed protection.
Priority practices include but are not limited to; row crop transition to pasture, hay or timber, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, cover crops. Forest management practices include prescribed burning, tree planting and brush management.
For additional information contact: Alachua Conservation Trust at 352-373-1078 or Surface2SpringsRCPP@alachuaconservationtrust.org.
Tall Timbers – Red Hills to the Coast:
The project area includes portions of Leon, Jefferson, Wakulla, Madison, and Taylor Counties.
The focus of this project is implement exemplary land management practices that serve to enhance, conserve and steward natural plant communities, wildlife habitats, and water resources.
Priority practices include but are not limited to: prescribed fire implementation, longleaf pine tree establishment, timber stand improvements, invasive plant treatment and wildlife habitat improvement.
For additional information contact: Tyler Macmillan at 850-556-5799 or tmacmillan@talltimbers.org or Nelson Ball at nball@talltimbers.org.
While NRCS accepts applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply by November 17, 2023, to be considered for funding in the current FY2024 cycle.
To learn more about what is need for the applications process, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.