USDA Announces $235M for Innovative New Conservation Partnerships

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced up to $235 million will available to local conservation partnerships across the country

What Happened?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced up to $235 million will available to local conservation partnerships across the country.

Goal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding a total of $235 million in conservation grants to innovative partnerships working to sustain a healthy environment. The federal funding will be used to:

Improve the nation’s water quality
Combat drought
Enhance soil health
Support wildlife habitat
Protect agricultural viability

Administered through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the funding will be awarded to partnerships between private companies, local and tribal governments, universities, nonprofit groups, farmers and ranchers, forest landowners and other community-based organizations. These local partnerships will work together to design solutions that best address the unique conservation concerns in their regions.

The goal of the grant program is to empower local partnerships to create and implement custom conservation programs using their regional expertise. The grants will not only fuel environmental conservation, but also support programs that spur economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism and other industries.

This is the second round of funding made available through the program. In January, the USDA delivered $394 million in awards through the first round of funding to 115 high-impact projects across all 50 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Regional Conservation Partnership Projects
The USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program is teaming up with local partnerships in all regions of the United States. Between USDA funding and partner contributions, total conservation investment through the program has surpassed $800 million total.

The program emphasizes participation of local partnerships that understand the unique problems in the region and have innovative ideas for how to solve these issues. The USDA understands local organizations have a first-hand perspective on what needs to be done in the community to maintain sustainability and strengthen economic development.

“This is an entirely new approach to conservation efforts,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These partnerships empower communities to set priorities and lead the way on conservation efforts important for their region. They also encourage private sector investment so we can make an impact that’s well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own. We’re giving private companies, local communities, and other non-government partners a way to invest in a new era in conservation that ultimately benefits us all. These efforts keep our land resilient and water clean, and promote economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism, outdoor recreation, and other industries.”

The type of programs funded through the initiative must offer the most conservation returns for the taxpayer dollar, as well as leverage additional financial and technical resources through private sector partnerships to achieve these goals. There must be a focus on both environmental protection and economic sustainability clearly laid out in the partnership application.

According to a 2013 study commissioned by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, “conservation activities supported more than 660,000 jobs. Conservation also provides an economic boost by spurring local tourism. Cleaner water and enhanced wildlife habitat provide additional opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. The outdoor recreation economy supports 6.1 million direct jobs, $80 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue, and $646 billion in spending each year.”