Signup for Florida Fiscal Year 2025 RCPP Entity Held Easements Opens through November 30

GAINESVILLE, Florida - October 24, 2024 – 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) and their partners Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), and Tall Timbers, Inc. (TT).

Applications for the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) fiscal year 2025 will be accepted and evaluated by NRCS, ACT, NFLT, and TT through November 30, 2024. NRCS accepts conservation easement applications year-round; however, applications received after November 30 will be considered for the following sign-up period, as funding allows. To apply for RCPP, land must be located within a project area (see map below).
 

RCPP projects offering Entity Held Easement application opportunities: 

Tall Timbers is leading the Red Hills to Coast RCPP project to protect working forest lands and forested wetlands that preserve critical open space, sensitive wildlife habitat, and water resources within the St. Marks and Aucilla watersheds. Landowners that applied for the recent Florida Department of Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) cycle are encouraged to apply for potential match opportunities. If your land falls within the TT project area and you wish to apply for a conservation easement, please contact Leslie Elmore, Project Coordinator, at or 850-868-0270 or lelmore@talltimbers.org

North Florida Land Trust is leading the Corridor to Coast and the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor RCPP projects. The O2O includes priority lands for the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN) 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 imperiled species and protect iconic Florida ecosystems. Landowners who applied for the recent Florida Department of Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) cycle are encouraged to apply for potential match opportunities. If you would like to find out more, please contact Joel Benn, Esq., Conservation Acquisitions Coordinator for NFLT, at or 904-557-7980. jbenn@nflt.org

Alachua Conservation Trust is leading the Lake to Lagoon RCPP project and is partnered with the Volusia Forever program. The RCPP promotes conservation of working farms, forestlands, and natural areas in the Lake to Lagoon region of central Florida by accelerating land protection and providing new financial assistance programs for management of privately owned forests and agricultural lands. The RCPP compliments existing conservation programs and advances regional conservation goals, with emphasis on protecting and restoring resilient and connected landscapes. Contact Susan Koehler, RCPP Coordinator for ACT, at or (352) 373-1078 if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity .L2LRCPP@alachuaconservationtrust.org

Application Requirements:
NRCS and its partners have funding through the RCPP to pay landowners for conservation easements placed upon their land. NRCS and the above referenced partners will be responsible for screening applicants for land eligibility, coordinating appropriately to determine the proper entity holder, negotiating conservation easement terms, and/or developing a land management plan. Due to the complex nature of these projects, landowners interested in these funding opportunities are strongly encouraged to reach out to the respective Partner for guidance in the options available prior to applying.

Applicants will need to take appropriate steps necessary to establish farm records and certifications:

• Farm records established/updated with the 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.

NRCS, ACT, NFLT, and TT encourage landowners and farmers who are historically underserved (HU) to apply. HU farmers are defined as farmers who are beginners, socially disadvantaged, or veterans, and/or who have limited resources. Landowners must self-certify HU status during FSA records establishment.

Participating in the RCPP helps secure the future of the nation’s food supply, prevents land with high conservation value from being developed or converted to a non-agricultural use, and provides public benefits including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat, and protection of open space.

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

Michael Ruiz, RCPP Easement Specialist,   michael.ruiz@usda.gov

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

Additional Documents: