USDA to Invest Over $200 Million in Nationwide Conservation Projects
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced on April 16 that the Service will be investing $206 million in 48 conservation projects spanning 29 states through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS’s investment will be supplemented with $300 million in partner contributions.
Through RCPP, NRCS works “with private landowners and producers to implement a variety of conservation activities, including land management practices and systems, short-term land rentals, conservation easements and watershed structures.” While each project is unique, each project offers “impactful and measurable outcomes.” Conservation objectives range from improving “water quality, soil health and drought resiliency to protecting drinking water supplies and enhancing wildlife habitat.”
“I’m excited to announce the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. “Through collaboration and aligning our resources toward a common goal, we’re making an impact for natural resource conservation that could never have been realized on our own.”
The National Deer Alliance (NDA) outlines state and federal land management as one of its key focus areas. “The recent investment announcement by NRCS is a huge win for sportsmen and women throughout the U.S. and builds on other recent federal announcements benefitting hunters,” said NDA’s policy and outreach coordinator, Torin Miller. “Increased investment in water and habitat conservation on both public and private lands benefits wild deer, deer hunters and broader conservation objectives.”
Over the life of the RCPP, NRCS has invested over $1 billion, paired with nearly $2 billion invested by partners, in conservation projects nationwide. Currently, 341 RCCP projects are active across the country, and RCCP boasts nearly 2,000 conservation partners. To view the complete list of projects being funded by this recent round of investment, click here.
