USDA Offers Conservation Assistance to Landowners to Protect Wetlands, Agricultural Lands and Grasslands
Private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) have until November 30, 2023
Release No.: 1027223
Contact: Reginald L. Jackson, State Public Affairs Specialist
(501) 301-3133 (w) (501-352-7761(c)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., October 26, 2023 – Private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups wanting to restore and protect critical wetlands and protect agricultural lands and grasslands through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) have until November 30, 2023, to apply for funding consideration during the 2024 enrollment period. There will be a second cutoff date of February 29, 2024, also for funding consideration for Fiscal Year (FY)24. The deadline is for the Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) programs.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) authorized the use of ACEP funds for easements or interests in land most likely to reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions on program-eligible land. Under this authority, there is also an IRA sign-up period for both ACEP-WRE and ACEP-ALE easements. This authority will have continuous enrollment, with an initial batching deadline of November 13, 2023.
“For over 25 years, NRCS has worked with landowners in Arkansas to protect their wetlands and agricultural lands,” said Mike Sullivan, NRCS state conservationist in Arkansas. “Conservation easements are important tools for people who are trying to improve soil health, water and air quality and wildlife habitat on their land.”
ACEP provides assistance to landowners and eligible entities helping conserve, restore and protect wetlands and productive agricultural lands and grasslands. NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment period.
Wetland Reserve Easements
Through ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements, NRCS helps landowners and tribes restore, enhance and protect wetland ecosystems. NRCS and the landowner work together to develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance of the easement.
“Seventy-five percent of the nation's wetlands are situated on private and tribal lands,” Sullivan said. “Wetlands provide many benefits, including critical habitat for a wide array of wildlife species. They also store floodwaters, clean and recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, trap sediment and filter pollutants for clean water.”
Wetland conservation easements are either permanent, for 30 years, or the maximum extent allowed by state law. Tribal landowners have the added option of enrolling in 30-year non-easement restoration contracts. Eligible lands include:
- Farmed or converted wetlands that can successfully be restored;
- Croplands or grasslands subject to flooding; and
- Riparian areas that link protected wetland areas.
Agricultural Land Easements
Through ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), NRCS provides funds to eligible entities to purchase easements on private working lands. This program helps keep working lands working, especially in areas experiencing development pressure.
Eligible cooperating entities include state or local agencies, non-profits and tribes. Landowners continue to own their property but voluntarily enter into a legal agreement with a cooperating entity to purchase an easement. The cooperating entity applies for matching funds from NRCS for the purchase of an easement from the landowner, permanently protecting its agricultural use and conservation values. Landowners do not apply directly to NRCS for funding under ALE.
Easements are permanent. Eligible lands include privately owned cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and forestlands.
Inflation Reduction Act Funded Agricultural Conservation Easements
Through the Inflation Reduction Act, authorized the use of ACEP funds for easements or interests in land most likely to reduce, capture, avoid, or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions on program-eligible land. This will allow for the possibility of additional funding for both ACEP-WRE easements and ACEP-ALE easements in Arkansas. This funding is nationwide and all applications will be ranked nationally for funding and then funding amounts will be determined at the state level based on the national funding availability. Priority areas include land that either meets one of the primary ACEP-WRE land eligibility categories or is eligible as adjacent land, and that will be restored and managed as native forest habitat.
More Information
ACEP remains a major part of the 2018 Farm Bill and program implementation will continue during fiscal year 2024.
Landowners and tribes interested in wetland reserve easements and partners interested in agricultural land easements should contact their local USDA service center.To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/get-started-with-nrcs or www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov .