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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:
Bob Bartholomew (208) 378-5703
 

New USDA Initiative Supports Cooperative Conservation Projects

BOISE, ID, March 19, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new conservation initiative designed to enhance cooperative conservation on agriculture and nonindustrial private forest land. The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) supports collaborative efforts to conserve and enhance natural resources and leverage Federal funds. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state office in Boise will accept applications for this program until April 23, 2009.

“This new initiative allows eligible entities to develop conservation projects that address specific environmental concerns within a region” said Jeff Burwell, Idaho State Conservationist.  “CCPI lets a cooperative group define the region for a project, as well as the criteria to evaluate producers for project funding.  It delivers flexible assistance to landowners because they pick the issue to address in a specific location and can leverage their money with funds from NRCS.”

The CCPI partnerships will address conservation priorities, encourage producers to cooperate on conservation work and meet regulatory requirements, and develop and demonstrate innovative conservation practices. The CCPI program provides money from the Federal government to match with funds from non-Federal sources.

Potential partners submit a partnership proposal that requests assistance for a project area united by a common conservation priority.  Proposals must describe the region covered by the proposal, conservation objectives to be achieved, potential partners, project duration, funding requested, and criteria to use to prioritize individual producer applications among many other things. A list of the requirements is found in the Federal Register for March 10, 2009, Vol. 74, No. 45, Page 10225, which can be accessed from the Idaho NRCS CCPI Web page.

Once the partnership proposal is selected, eligible individuals apply to the NRCS for funding; approximately $800,000 is available. CCPI uses the funds, policies, and processes of NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) cost-share agreements.  Therefore, entities and producers interested in the CCPI program must qualify for the EQIP or WHIP. If a proposal is selected, eligible individuals must apply directly to NRCS for funding. 

Entities eligible to participate include federally recognized Indian Tribes, state and local governments, producer associations, farmer cooperatives, higher education institutions, or nongovernmental organizations working cooperatively with producers.

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