Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that $1.5 billion was being made available in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions. Through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), project proposals will be accepted until July 2, 2024.
Projects funded through the RCPP will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. This investment is being made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act.
There are two separate funding opportunities: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFA, the lead partner works directly with agricultural producers to support the development of innovative conservation approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.
The 2024 RCPP funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice.
Details on the RCPP Classic and RCPP AFA funding opportunities are available on Grants.gov. NRCS will be hosting webinars to provide additional information. Learn how to participate at the RCPP website.?