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Natural Resource Conservation and Recreation Programs

Introduction
Natural Resource Conservation
Recreation

Introduction
Federal financial assistance programs that facilitate natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation can help to preserve historic properties. Battlefields, rural historic districts, trails, archeological sites, and other historic resources can benefit.

A number of natural resource conservation programs can help fund acquisition of parcels or creation of protective easements. Several programs supporting outdoor recreation can fund land acquisition, easements, and rehabilitation activities.

Natural Resource Conservation

Wetlands Reserve Program
Federal Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Recipients: Landowners and Indian tribes
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can purchase protective easements on wetlands from interested farmers and pay for wetlands restoration activities.

Grassland Reserve Program
Federal Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Recipients: Landowners
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP/

Through this program, created by the 2002 Farm Bill, USDA can purchase protective easements on grasslands from interested land owners. In lieu of easements, USDA and landowners can enter into long-term agreements (10-30 years) in which the landowners receive annual payments to restore and conserve the grasslands.

Conservation Reserve Program
Federal Agency: Farm Service Agency
Recipients: Agricultural producers
www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp

Under this program, farmers may voluntarily retire environmentally sensitive cropland for 10 to 15 years in return for annual rental payments and cost-share assistance for establishing approved conservation practices.

Farmland Protection Program—see www.achp.gov/funding-general.html#farmland
Federal Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Recipients: Coastal States and Trust Territories
http://ecos.fws.gov/coastal_grants/viewContent.do?viewPage=home

This program provides matching grants for the acquisition, restoration, management or enhancement of coastal wetlands.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants Program
Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Recipients: Private or public organizations; individuals
www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/nawca/grants.htm

Grants are available for the acquisition, restoration, management or enhancement of wetlands in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Grants
Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Recipients: States and Territories
www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/section6/index.htmll

These grants assist in the protection of threatened and endangered species, and two grant types in the program can fund the acquisition of property— Recovery Land Acquisition Grants and Habitat Conservation Planning Land Acquisition Grants.

Coastal Zone Management Grants
Federal Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Recipients: Coastal States and Territories
http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/programs/coast_div.html

This program provides funds to assist in advancing national coastal management objectives and maintaining and strengthening coastal management capabilities. Approved State and territory Coastal Zone Management Programs receive funding, and such programs are expected to address preservation and restoration of historic, cultural, and esthetic coastal features, as well as redevelopment of urban waterfronts and ports.

Recreation

Land and Water Conservation Fund State Conservation Grants
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Recipients: States
www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/lwcf/grants.html

State Conservation Grants are matching grants to states and through states to local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities that provide public access to the lands, waters and other recreation resources. This program contributes to conserving natural and cultural resources; continuing and promoting state outdoor recreation planning; and promoting a greater commitment by state governments to conserve and improve recreation resources. In FY 2008, $23.133 million was available.

Recreational Trails Program Grants
Federal Agency: Federal Highway Administration
Recipients: States
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/index.htm

These grants can be used to maintain, restore, and rehabilitate trails, including National Historic Trails, and rehabilitate trailside facilities. They can also support acquisition of easements or title to property for trails, including acquisition of old road or railroad bridges to be used as recreational trail bridges.

Updated May 19, 2008

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