ACUB Program Overview

The Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program creates land conservation partnerships between the Army and outside organizations to protect land from development that is incompatible with the military mission.  Title 10, Section 2684a of the United States Code allows the Department of Defense to enter into agreements to establish buffer areas around training and testing areas.  The Army implements this authority through the ACUB Program.  

Funding is provided by the joint efforts of the Army and its partners.  The Army’s partners use these funds to acquire an interest (conservation easement) from willing landowners. This mutual effort preserves natural resources and limits land development that is incompatible with military training.   The Fort Campbell ACUB Program was established in April 2006.    The program was established to conserve open space (such as farmland) and promote compatible land use around the post's airfields and training facilities.  To date, over 1,000 acres of farmland around Fort Campbell has been permanently preserved.

 Some of the benefits of the ACUB Program include:

• Private landowners realize financial benefits and tax incentives while preserving land legacy and heritage for future generations;
• Partners get financial support for land conservation, such as working lands preservation and endangered species and key habitats protection;
• Fort Campbell realizes greater training flexibility and reduced incompatible use along its border;
• Supports local efforts to promote open space and preserve prime agricultural lands within the surrounding region
• The Partnership helps to preserve the long-term viability of Fort Campbell, which disburses over $4 billion annually to the region   

Additional details about the ACUB program are highlighted below.

What is an (ACUB) Conservation Easement?

A conservation easement is a voluntary, legal agreement between willing parties for the purposes of conservation.  It preserves the agricultural and/or natural character of the property by limiting development to a mutually agreed upon level.  The property remains the private property of the landowner.  A conservation easement is the primary real estate interest pursued by Fort Campbell’s Partners under the ACUB Program.

Fort Campbell ACUB Partners

Fort Campbell has a partnership with two ACUB partners, Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Land Trust for Tennessee.  This partnership was established to pursue conservation opportunities on lands near Fort Campbell which contain prime agricultural soils and other natural habitat.  The Partnership only works with willing sellers who may be interested in preserving their lands for future generations.  Each ACUB partner has extensive experience in land preservation and achieving the long-term goals of landowners.   Any easement obtained under the ACUB program will typically be held by ACUB partners (and not the Army).

Kentucky Department of Agriculture is a state government agency which has a core mission to preserve and enhance agricultural lands. The Department of Agriculture has been directly involved in farmland preservation through the State’s Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program since 1994 and has preserved over 122 farms comprising 29,877 acres.

Land Trust for Tennessee is a private, nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of natural and historic landscapes, regardless of Threatened and Endangered Species (TES) value.  The Land Trust for Tennessee was established in 1999 and has preserved over 42,351 acres of working farms and scenic landscapes.

Interested landowners

Interested landowners can contact ACUB Partnership members for information about conservation opportunities in their area.  Kentucky landowners should contact the Kentucky Department of Agriculture at (502) 564-4696.  Tennessee landowners should contact the Land Trust for Tennessee at (615) 244-5263.  General information about the Fort Campbell ACUB program can also be obtained by contacting Fort Campbell ACUB Program representatives at (270) 798-3897 or (270) 798-0729. 

Kentucky Department of Agriculture Farmland Preservation Program 32 Fountain Place Frankfort, Kentucky 40604 (502) 564-4696 www.kyagr.com/marketing/farmland/index.htm   Land Trust for Tennessee P.O. Box 23473 Nashville, Tennessee 37202 (615) 244-5263 www.landtrusttn.org

Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) funding for land conservation projects is generally limited to properties in close proximity to Fort Campbell.  Landowner participation in the ACUB program is strictly voluntary.

Accomplishments to Date

The Fort Campbell ACUB Partnership has preserved over 1,000 acres of farmland in Kentucky and Tennessee for future generations.  Efforts are currently underway to secure additional easements from willing landowners.