Press Release
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
RCPP projects fall under two different categories: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFAs). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFAs, NRCS provides funding to partners to support conservation activities with eligible producers and landowners on eligible land. RCPP AFA funding reimburses partners for conservation activities done for or on behalf of producers, landowners, or other entities.
Latest Information
USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture
USDA is accepting RCPP project proposals now through July 2.
RCPP 2023 Projects
Learn about the 81 locally led conservation projects funded through RCPP Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangements (Grants) for 2023.
RCPP Improvement Effort
USDA’s NRCS has identified ways to streamline and simplify RCPP, ease the burden on employees and partners, and help maximize flexibility for partners to leverage their investments with NRCS resources and capabilities.
See a map of 2020 - 2022 Awarded Projects here.
1. Impact—RCPP applications must propose effective and compelling solutions that address one or more natural resource priorities to help solve natural resource challenges. Partners are responsible for evaluating a project’s impact and results.
2. Partner Contributions—Partners are responsible for identifying any combination of cash and in-kind value-added contributions to leverage NRCS’s RCPP investments. It is NRCS’s goal that partner contributions at least equal the NRCS investment in an RCPP project. Substantive partner contributions are given priority consideration as part of the RCPP application evaluation criteria.
3. Partnerships and Management—Partners must have experience, expertise, and capacity to manage the partnership and project, provide outreach to producers, and quantify the environmental outcomes of an RCPP project. RCPP ranking criteria give preference to applicants that meaningfully engage historically underserved farmers and ranchers.
RCPP Conservation Activities
RCPP projects may include a range of on-the-ground conservation activities implemented by farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. These activities include:
- Land management/land improvement/restoration practices
- Land rentals
- Entity-held easements
- United States-held easements
- Public works/watersheds
A single RCPP project application can propose to employ any combination of these eligible activity types as part of an RCPP project.
For more information on RCPP easements, visit the RCPP easement page.
RCPP Funding Pools
RCPP funding is divided evenly among two funding pools:
Critical Conservation Areas
For projects in eight geographic areas chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture. These receive 50 percent of funding. Learn more about RCPP Critical Conservation Areas.
State/Multistate
For projects in a single state or across several states. These receive 50 percent of funding.
Who is Eligible
Partner Eligibility
Eligible organizations interested in partnering with NRCS on conservation projects can develop applications for the RCPP competition. The lead partner for an RCPP project is the entity that submits an application, and if selected for an award is ultimately responsible for collaborating with NRCS to successfully complete an RCPP project.
See the RCPP funding announcement for details about what types of organizations are eligible to apply.
Producer and Landowner Eligibility
Once NRCS selects a project and executes an RCPP agreement with a lead partner, agricultural producers may participate in an RCPP project in one of two ways. First, producers may engage with project partners and delegate a willing partner to act as their representative in working with NRCS. Second, producers seeking to carry out conservation activities consistent with a RCPP project in the project’s geographic area can apply directly to NRCS.
Land Eligibility
RCPP projects must be carried out on agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land or associated land on which NRCS determines an eligible activity would help achieve conservation benefits (i.e., improved condition of natural resources resulting from implementation of conservation activities).
Eligible conservation activities may be implemented on public lands when those activities will benefit eligible lands as determined by NRCS and are included in the scope of an approved RCPP project.
How to Apply
Potential partners are invited to propose RCPP projects where NRCS and partners co-invest in impactful and innovative solutions to on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns.
Resources for Lead Partners
Resources to help awarded partners negotiate an RCPP Programmatic Partnership Agreement, Supplemental Agreements, and how to work with NRCS to implement conservation activities on the ground.
2024 RCPP Funding Opportunities
Application Period Now Open
Proposals now being accepted for the 2024 RCPP until July 2, 2024, through the RCPP portal. Read the press release here.
The full Notice of Funding Opportunities and details on eligibility requirements are available on Grants.gov:
- RCPP Classic NOFO0001354: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353379
- RCPP AFA NOFO0001355: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353380
Applicants are should contact Rhode Island State Conservationist, Phou Vongkhamdy, and state RCPP Coordinator, Marina Capraro, prior to submitting a proposal. NRCS will use a state conservation questionnaire to record the results of this conversation. Proposals without a completed questionnaire will have their score and ranking reduced.
More Information
Additional information can be found at the NRCS How to Apply to RCPP web page and on our applicant webinars:
- April 23, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar, 2:00-4:00 pm EDT: This webinar will provide general information for applicants submitting proposals. The same material will be covered at both webinars followed by a question-and-answer section. Registration Link: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/e2f45f75-7ea4-410b-b1c9-567537cd2454@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
- May 30, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar, 2:00-4:00 pm EDT: This webinar will provide general information for applicants submitting proposals. The same material will be covered at both webinars followed by a question-and-answer section. Registration Link: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/226dcb51-0b57-43b1-b340-95e535238713@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
Active RCPP Projects in Rhode Island
RCPP has two different types of projects: Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with farmers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFA, the lead partner must work directly with farmers to support the development of new conservation structures and approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.
The national 2023 RCPP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) showcased a number of program improvements including increased project funding ceilings, simplified financial assistance and technical assistance structures, a stronger emphasis on locally led conservation, and easement deed flexibilities. Up to $500 million was available through RCPP for fiscal year 2023, of which up to $50 million prioritized AFAs with Indian Tribes.
Interested applicants were encouraged to participate in upcoming webinars that will provide general information about this funding announcement. The webinars took place on May 24 and June 7, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. Links were posted on the RCPP How to Apply website.
NRCS announces that the RI Forest Health Works Project is accepting applications for funding for fiscal year 2024. This year project partners will hold separate application ranking cutoff dates for our two different program options: March 1, 2024 for U.S.-Held Easements and May 17, 2024 for Entity-Held Easements.
Active RCPP Projects in Rhode Island
RI Forest Health Works RCPP
RI Forest Health Works RCPP
Project partners will use $4M in 2021 RCPP funding to permanently protect over 1,300 acres of critical, privately owned forest lands to combat fragmentation and improve wildlife habitat. Targeting tools will prioritize critical lands and conservation easements will be coupled with forest management plans and funding for forest restoration and enhancement activities. FY 2024 Signup Now Open!
RI Statewide Natural Systems Demonstration RCPP
RI Statewide Natural Systems Demonstration RCPP
The RI State Conservation Committee (RISCC) and partners are developing and implementing a suite of innovative natural systems-based conservation practices in three separate landscapes that represent coastal, inland and agricultural focused watersheds. FY 2024 Signup Now Open!
RCPP Project Rankings
- RI Forest Health Works RCPP Project - FY2024 Ranking Questions for U.S.-Held Easements
- RI Forest Health Works RCPP Project - FY2024 Ranking for Entity-Held Easements
- RI Statewide Natural Systems Demonstration RCPP - FY2024 Ranking Questions - Eastern Rhode Island
- RI Statewide Natural Systems Demonstration RCPP - FY2024 Ranking Questions - Northern Rhode Island
- RI Statewide Natural Systems Demonstration RCPP - FY2024 Ranking Questions - Southern Rhode Island
- RI Farm Plan Implementation RCPP - FY2024 Ranking Questions
Ready to get started?
Contact your local service center to start your application.
How to Get Assistance
Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?
Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.
To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.
NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.
We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:
- To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
- To meet other eligibility certifications.
Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.
Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.
As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:
- An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
- A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
- A farm number.
If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.
NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.
If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.
Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.
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