Learn about EQIP Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs).
On this page:
- What are CPAs, DIAs, and CEMAs?
- Program Guidance
- Fiscal Year 2023 Conservation Activities
- Previous FY EQIP Conservation Activities Resources
What are CPAs, DIAs, and CEMAs?
Technical Service Providers (TSP) or other third-party service providers (Providers) for NRCS can carry out planning, design, implementation, and monitoring tasks for NRCS conservation program purposes (previously known as Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs)). NRCS has reorganized and renamed CAPs into three new categories—Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs). NRCS broke these activities out to clarify which phase of the NRCS conservation planning process the TSP/Provider will be supporting.
- Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs): Activities that result in a conservation plan consistent with steps 1-7 of the NRCS conservation planning process. The CPA will document client decisions regarding selected alternatives including identification of desired primary and supporting practices that the client would like to use to treat identified resource concerns.
- Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs): Activities that allow for development of specific practice designs, management prescriptions, or other instructions that allow the client to implement the conservation practice or system of conservation practices. These activities are consistent with Step 8 of the NRCS conservation planning process. (Does not include assistance with conservation practice installation, review, and checkout.)
- Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs): Activities that include evaluation, monitoring, testing, or assessment for a specific purpose, to complete practice implementation requirements, or to determine the effectiveness of conservation practices and activities. CEMAs are consistent with Step 9 of the NRCS conservation planning process but may be used at any point in the planning process.
Program Guidance
NRCS program policy and guidance to support implementation of the CPA, DIA, and CEMA Conservation Activities through the EQIP program is available at NRCS eDirectives – National Instruction 440-320.
To view the applicable activities in your state, visit the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) website and navigate to Section 3.
Fiscal Year 2023 Conservation Activities
Conservation Planning Activities
Design and Implementation Activities
Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities
Learn More
Conservation Technical Assistance
Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
Conservation Planning
A conservation plan identifies the customer’s conservation objectives and assesses and analyzes the natural resources issues on that customer’s land related to soil, water, animals, plants, air, energy, and human interaction.
Getting Assistance
NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.
