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Florida USDA NRCS Receives $71.3 Million to Advance Conservation, Climate-Smart Agriculture through Regional Conservation Partnership Program

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Silhouette of trees and smoke settling at sunset in Florida

USDA announces historic funding for partner-driven conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Program (RCPP). Florida will receive $71.3 million for three RCPP projects.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a historic $1.5 billion for 92 partner-driven conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. Partners will provide $968 million in contributions to amplify the impact of the federal investment. Florida will receive $71.3 Million in funding. Selected RCPP projects, including those in Florida, will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand voluntary, locally led conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis.  

“The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is an example of public-private partnership at its best,” said Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida.

By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation. 

In Florida, projects include: 

Florida’s Big Bend RCPP by Tall Timbers Research, Inc. – $25,000,000 Federal Funds
Tall Timbers will work in Florida’s Big Bend region to implement conservation practices, such as prescribed fire, forest stand improvement, and herbaceous weed control to restore the health of fire-dependent forests. These practices will improve wildlife habitat, including habitat for at-risk species, such as Bachman’s sparrow, gopher tortoise, and northern bobwhite. This Partner will use a combination of conservation easements and land management practices to achieve project goals.

Map of Big Bend RCPP Tall Timbers project area in Florida

Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem by Wildlands Conservation, Inc. – $25,000,000 Federal Funds
The goal of the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem RCPP is to secure over 9,350 acres of land via less-than-fee simple acquisition. Through our partnerships with leading researchers, managers, and farmers in the region, Wildlands Conservation, Inc., the lead partner will assist ranchers and citrus growers, with a focus on underserved producers, with land management assistance and support by introducing strategies that are more cost, water, and energy efficient and thus, climate friendly. This partner will use a combination of conservation easements and land management conservation practices to achieve project goals.

Florida RCPP - Lake Wales Project area map

Peace River Valley-Protecting Charlotte Harbor Headwaters, Florida Conservation Group – $21,250,000 Federal Funds
The goal of this project is to protect a network of natural and agricultural lands in the Peace River Valley. This region supplies drinking water for Southwest Florida and is crucial to the health of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, an estuary of national significance. Charlotte Harbor’s headwaters begin upstream in the creeks and rivers running through vast ranchlands. Protecting these lands and tributaries is critical to maintaining source water protection, water quality, wildlife habitat and climate resilience in a fast-growing region. This partner will use conservation easements to achieve project goals.

RCPP Peace River Valley project area map - Florida

More Information
To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.


Contacts:
Denise Liggett, RCPP Coordinator,  denise.liggett@usda.gov

Hilary Barnhart, ASTC - Partnerships and Initiatives, Hilary.barnhart@usda.gov

Cynthia Portalatin, Public Affairs Specialist,  cynthia.portalatin@usda.gov