Florida NRCS Offers Agricultural Landowners Extended Opportunity to Sign Up for Conservation Easements
Florida NRCS offers agricultural landowners extended opportunity to sign up for conservation easements. Apply by May 31, 2024, for Fiscal Year 2024 funding.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – April 2, 2024 – Florida agricultural landowners interested in protecting the integrity of their property have an opportunity to safeguard their land with a conservation easement through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Applications for the ACEP Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) Fiscal Year 2024 funding are being accepted during an additional signup period today through May 31, 2024, to allow for more participation. NRCS accepts agricultural conservation easement applications year-round; however, applications received after May 31 will be considered for the following fiscal year.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values. Under the WRE component, landowners may apply directly to NRCS for a conservation easement to restore wetlands impacted by agriculture.
Wetland Reserve Easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, protect biological diversity, provide resilience to climate change, and provide opportunities for limited recreational activities.
Not sure how to begin? Visit NRCS Florida website where you will find information on ACEP WRE benefits, how to apply, all the forms you will need, and more. To obtain an NRCS ACEP application, contact your local USDA Service Center. For more information, contact Crenel Francis, Natural Resource Specialist, at (352) 538-3937 or crenel.francis@usda.gov.
Contacts:
Marcus Shorter, Assistant State Conservationist for Easements, marcus.shorter@usda.gov
Crenel Francis, Natural Resource Specialist, crenel.francis@usda.gov, (352) 538-3937
Photo by USDA NRCS.
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