USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Mexico is announcing October 2, 2026, as the deadline to sign up for the New Mexico Restoration Initiative for Rangeland, Forestland and Wildlife on Ranches with Federal Lands Initiative Project through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP provides a targeted, science-based approach to restoring and protecting habitats while strengthening rural economies and cultivating collaboration among conservation partners.

This Initiative will utilize RCPP contracts with landowners whose operations include federal lands. Additional agreements submitted by partners will add funds and leverage RCPP funds to extend projects. This will increase the scope of practices implemented and encourage additional practices treating critical resource concerns. 

Projects will treat private, tribal, state, and federal lands while maintaining agricultural and energy production, supporting operation sustainability and maintaining cultural traditions. This project will be modeled after the “Restore New Mexico” and “RCPP 2017 Soil” projects.  Funds from NRCS, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA), NM Environment Department (NMED), NM Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD), tribes, and private industry will be combined to accomplish treatment on over 250,000 acres of brush-invaded rangelands and dense forestland. Approximately 30 ranchers in 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts will develop Coordinated Resource Management Plans that are essential to effective agency coordination and land treatment. 

"RCPP plays a critical role in connecting partners with producers to design and implement conservation solutions that benefit both natural resources and agriculture,” said State Conservationist Xavier Montoya. “The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation, and RCPP is contributing innovative conservation solutions to communities across the country, and here in New Mexico."

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Past approaches where ranchers and land management agencies independently apply restoration projects can be inefficient, fragmented, unfocused, small-scale, and not cost-effective. Independently applied isolated projects typically don’t address resource concerns on a landscape/watershed scale.  Larger scale projects address critical issues of habitat connectivity essential for wildlife adaptation to climate variability. Due to historic settlement patterns, private lands are largely located in the lower portions of a watershed. Upper watersheds are mostly managed by BLM or USFS.  This initiative will facilitate broad-scale treatments.

 Projects must be located in the Geographic Priority Area (see map).

• Lead Partner Organization: New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
• Other Partners: Bureau of Land Management
• Resource Concerns: Degraded Plant Condition, Soil Quality Limitations, Terrestrial Habitat 
• Activity Types: Land Management 
• Eligible Practices: Forest Stand Improvement (666), Woody Residue Treatment (384), Brush Management (314), or other facilitating practices may be used. 
• Financial Assistance Available: $1,000,000.00 
• Application Deadline: October 2, 2026 
• Ranking Deadline: November 4, 2026 
• 100% Obligations: December 31, 2026

Producers can apply by visiting their local USDA Service Center and submitting their Conservation Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200).  Producers who have established profiles on farmers.gov may submit their applications online.  Producers need to receive a farm and tract number from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by the application deadline. 

NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. For more information about NRCS New Mexico visit NRCS New Mexico.

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