USDA funding being offered for forestry practices on Virginia lands

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now making $470,000 available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to help increase adoption of forestry practices across Virginia.

Offered in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), the RCPP Forestry Program offers landowners an opportunity to help establish and maintain the forestlands that are fundamental to clean air and water, wildlife habitat and recreation/tourism. Interested individuals should sign up by December 18 to be considered for FY16 funding.

VDOF foresters will help eligible landowners develop a plan to manage their land for specific purposes, such as recreation or wildlife habitat. This Forest Management Plan outlines the landowner’s goals and objectives, recommended conservation practices and an implementation schedule.

Financial assistance is available for creating this plan as well as installing the following conservation practices: prescribed burning, critical area planting, riparian forest buffers, firebreaks, tree/shrub site preparation, tree/shrub establishment and forest stand improvement.

“Well-managed, productive forests offer numerous conservation benefits, but the long growth cycle of trees can present a financial challenge for landowners seeking to retain working forestlands,” said NRCS Virginia State Conservationist Jack Bricker. “By joining forces with state and local partners, we can have an impact well beyond what the federal government could accomplish on its own.”

Created in the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP empowers local leaders to work with a variety of partners to design conservation solutions that work best for their regions. More information on Virginia RCPP projects is available online at http://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/ .

Go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or your local USDA service center to learn more about technical and financial assistance available through our conservation programs.