RCPP Entity Held Easements FY26 Open Sign-up
Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values and practices have an opportunity to apply for RCPP Entity Held Conservation Easements in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
News Release
USDA NRCS Florida State Office
4500 NW 27th Ave. Bldg. A
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 338-9500
RCPP Entity Held Easements FY26 Open Sign-up
GAINESVILLE, Florida, December 11, 2025 – Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values and practices have an opportunity to apply for Entity Held Conservation Easements in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Tall Timbers and North Florida Land Trust.
Applications through the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) fiscal year 2026 will be accepted and evaluated by NRCS and partners through January 15, 2026. Parcels within and/or touching the RCPP project boundaries (see map) are eligible to apply.
RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns.
Tall Timbers, North Florida Land Trust and NRCS accept conservation easement applications from entities year-round, however, applications received after January 15, will be considered for the following sign-up period as funding allows.
Tall Timbers is leading two RCPP projects (1960 and 3525), both focusing on protecting working forest lands and forested wetlands which protect critical open space, sensitive wildlife habitat and water resources within Florida’s Big Bend area.
North Florida Land Trust is leading RCPP project (1924) to protect the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor (O2O), in partnership with approximately 26 federal, state, and private organizations. The O2O includes priority lands for the Florida Ecological Greenways Network and is a critical linkage in the Florida Wildlife Corridor. By protecting the natural beauty and sustainability of the landscape and connector lands, the O2O will continue to provide habitat for the Florida black bear and imperiled species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake and gopher tortoise. In addition, there are opportunities for protecting iconic Florida ecosystems, including legacy longleaf pine forests, sandhill and scrub in the O2O.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Rural Family Land Protection Program (RFLPP) is able to partner with Tall Timbers and North Florida Land Trust when federal funds, such as RCPP, are involved. Those funding partnerships help move projects into a priority work plan for the RFLPP, which means the conservation easements can be acquired more quickly. RFLPP may be involved in potential match negotiations.
If you are a landowner interested in conserving your land in partnership with Tall Timbers or North Florida Land Trust, please contact:
Tall Timbers: Leslie Elmore - Project Coordinator at lelmore@talltimbers.org
North Florida Land Trust: Kimberly Hall - Conservation Manager at khall@nflt.org or (904)-479-7986
NRCS: Michael Ruiz - RCPP Coordinator at michael.ruiz@usda.gov
As part of this initiative, NRCS and its partners have funding through the RCPP to pay landowners for conservation easements placed upon their land. NRCS, North Florida Land Trust and Tall Timbers will be responsible for screening for land eligibility, coordinating appropriately to determine the proper entity holder, negotiating conservation easement terms and/or developing a land management plan. Landowners must work with an eligible entity to apply for these projects. Applicants will need to take appropriate steps necessary to establish farm records and certifications. See below for Application Requirements:
- Farm records established/updated with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) for the applicant and the land.
- Be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements.
- Applicable documentation required for signature authority.
- Have control of land, where “control” means possession of the land by ownership.
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.
For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.
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