Land Trust Alliance applauds announcement of $1.5 billion in Regional Conservation Partnership Program awards

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a historic $1.5 billion to fund 92 partner-driven conservation projects through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program. RCPP provides multiple options to improve conservation at scale, from voluntary conservation agreements on working family farms to helping farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adopt and expand voluntary, locally-led conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis.

This announcement includes 22 projects led by members and/or affiliates of the Land Trust Alliance that collectively received nearly $415 million in awards.

“The Land Trust Alliance applauds this historic investment by USDA that demonstrates its commitment to partnering with land trusts and other experienced conservation organizations,” said Lori Faeth, senior director of government affairs at the Land Trust Alliance. “Every hour, we lose roughly 150 acres of natural land and 85 acres of farmland and ranchland. Farm Bill conservation programs like RCPP help permanently protect our most valuable and productive lands and in the process improve water quality and soil health, reduce erosion and conserve wildlife habitat.”

On December 20, 2018, the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. The legislation adopted many of the Land Trust Alliance’s highest priorities including support for funding RCPP at $300 million per year annually from 2018-2023. As Congress continues to debate the legislation’s next iteration, the Land Trust Alliance will continue to press Congress to pass a strong, well-funded Farm Bill this year.

View the Land Trust Alliance’s current Farm Bill recommendations.

Background on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to promote coordination between the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and partners on innovative projects to address conservation concerns on farms, across states and regions. NRCS provides cost-share funding while its partners coordinate activities in their service area. The program consolidates former regional programs, like the Chesapeake Bay Initiative, into one entity funded with money from other conservation programs. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture also designates eight critical conservation areas that receive priority funding.

About the Land Trust Alliance

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by empowering and mobilizing land trusts in communities across America to conserve land for the benefit of all. The Alliance represents approximately 1,000 member land trusts and affiliates supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., with staff in communities across the United States.