Funding Available for NJ Landowners to Protect Agricultural Working Lands, Grasslands, Wetlands

SOMERSET — Carrie Lindig, New Jersey State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), anticipates that $4.6 million will be available to provide long-term protection of New Jersey’s farmland, wetlands and grasslands in 2017 through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
“Conservation easements are an important tool to help landowners and partners voluntarily protect these vital resources for future generations,” Lindig said. “NRCS was able to invest over $4 million to enroll nearly 664 acres in the program in New Jersey in fiscal year 2016.”
Landowners must work with a cooperating entity and do not submit applications for ACEP-ALE directly to NRCS. State and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements, and several New Jersey land trust and governmental organizations are available to help interested landowners apply for a conservation easement through the NRCS program. ACEP applications received by Nov. 30, if eligibility and ranking criteria are met, will be considered for this year’s program.
Agricultural land is protect through ACEP’s agricultural land easements component. Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) not only protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses, but also support environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space. State and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements. The agricultural land easement component is also available for “grasslands of special environmental significance,” intended to protect high-quality grasslands that are under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development and other non-grazing uses. Contact Gail Bartok, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at 732-537-6042 or Lauren Lapczynski, Easement Specialist, at 732-537-6046 for more information about ACEP-ALE.
Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), the second component of ACEP, allow landowners to successfully enhance and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. To apply for a wetlands easement through ACEP-WRE, visit NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of these easements, and eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement.
To learn about ACEP in New Jersey, visit www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.
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