USDA Launches Regional Approach to Conservation

An new approach to conservation launches today, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The idea is to improve habitats and the local environment using a regional approach, spanning public and private land, with funds coming from the public and private sectors. The Department of Agriculture is kicking it off with 115 projects across all 50 states with $370 million in funding. Partners are contributing $400 million, bringing the total close to $800 million. Projects will improve wildlife habitat on private lands, and help farmers and ranchers fight droughts by resuscitating the soil, improving water practices and protecting drinking water supplies. Over 600 project proposals were submitted last year. "As venture capitalists provide financial resources to burgeoning, high-potential growth startups, USDA must lead in a new venture conservationist movement that empowers and launches high-opportunity startup partnerships that deliver locally-led conservation solutions," says Jason Weller, Chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is leading the initiative. The agency uses a competitive process to select projects, designed by local partners specifically for their region. Partners can be private companies, universities, non-profit organizations and local and tribal governments. Not only will they invest money, but they provide peoplepower and materials to get the job done. Over the next five years, USDA's $1.2 billion (approved in the Farm Bill) will be matched, bringing $2.4 billion to conservation in the US...more 

Certainly resembles landscape planning and landscape conservation cooperatives, except this time aimed at private landowners.