News Feature                                                            4/1/2009

USDA Seeking Proposals from Conservation Partners

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking proposals from organizations that want to improve conservation and improve wildlife habitat on private lands.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will accept proposals for its Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative until April 23. Under CCPI, organizations enter into a partnership agreement with NRCS and have conservation program funds made available for use in a designated geographic area determined by the applicant. NRCS conservation program funds can be used on agricultural lands and nonindustrial private forest lands. Funding from NRCS is strictly for installing conservation measures on private lands, no administrative funding is provided to the applicant.

The intent of CCPI is for the Federal government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation with services and resources of non-Federal partners and to enhance these partnerships. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, State and local units of government, producer associations, farmer cooperatives, institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations with a history of working cooperatively with producers.

Proposals are being sought for single-state and multi-state partnerships. Proposals for single-state partners should be submitted to the NRCS Minesota State Conservationist, William Hunt. Multi-state proposals must be sent to NRCS Headquarters in Washington, DC.

NRCS funding for CCPI will come from the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Over $1 million may be available for Minnesota projects. Individual recipients of financial assistance through CCPI must meet the program eligibility requirements.

For more information about CCPI, visit the program Web site at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ccpi or contact John Beckwith, Water Resources Staff Leader, at the Minnesota NRCS state office at (651) 602-7930.

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