Federal Programs

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

• National Conservation Areas

  NCAs are areas designated by Congress in order to conserve, protect, enhance, and manage public lands for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The DoD's Natural Resources Program supports the military's testing and training mission by protecting its biological resources.

• Legacy Program

  The Legacy Program provides financial assistance for DoD efforts to preserve natural and cultural heritage by protecting and enhancing resources, all while supporting military readiness.

The U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation helps states and communities strengthen critical relationships with Department of Defense’s assets and installations.

• Compatible Use Plans and Military Installation Resilience Reviews

  The Compatible Use Study and Military Installation Resilience Review are comprehensive tools used by state and local governments to develop strategies that allow them to grow, while supporting the military mission. 

• Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program

  The REPI Program protects military missions by helping remove or avoid land-use conflicts near installations and addressing regulatory restrictions that inhibit military activities. The REPI Program helps to preserve agricultural and natural lands around military installations that provide benefits to their military mission. The 2019 REPI Report to Congress is now available through the REPI webiste. The Report summarizes and reviews the achievements of the Program through Fiscal Year 2018: in it

In addition to understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans and coast, NOAA conserves and manages coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Agency has direct authority to regulate and sustain marine fisheries; habitats and ecosystems; and sanctuaries and other protected places.

• Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program

  CELCP provides matching funds to state and local governments to purchase threatened coastal and estuarine lands or obtain conservation easements. To be considered, the land must be important ecologically or possess other coastal conservation values, such as historic features, scenic views, or recreational opportunities.

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the benefit of present and future generations.

• Land and Water Conservation Fund

  The LWCF provides earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve historical sites, and protect the natural state of lands and waters.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides financial and technical assistance to all farmers, ranchers, and agricultural partners. The FSA administers farm commodity, crop insurance, credit, environmental, conservatioin, and emergency assistance programs for farmers and ranchers.

• Conservation Reserve Program

  CRP provides a yearly rental payment (10 to 15 years) for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and cost-share for planting species to improve environmental quality. yearly rental payments to farmers in exchange.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to America's farmers and ranchers to voluntarily conserve working lands, not only helping the environment but also the working character of America's agricultural lands.

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

  ACEP provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands, including cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, wetlands, and non-industrial private forest land.

• Conservation Stewardship Program

  CSP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers for implementing conservation management activities related to a variety of key resource concerns, including soil and water quality and wildlife habitat, on cropland, pasture, rangeland and forestland, in contracts that are 5 years long.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program

  EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers for implementing conservation practices related to a variety of key resource concerns, including soil and water quality, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat, in contracts up to 10 years in length.

• Regional Conservation Partnership Program

  RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver technical and financial assistance for conservation to producers and landowners through partnership agreements, conservation program contracts, or easements. RCPP projects achieve regional natural resource goals while also meeting complementary local conservation priorities.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages and protects national forests and grasslands with the goal of sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of these areas to meet the needs of present and future generations.

• Community Forest Program

  The Community Forest Program protects forests that provide recreational opportunities; protect habitat, water quality and other environmental benefits; or provide economic benefits through timber production.

• Forest Legacy Program

  The Forest Legacy Program targets ecologically and economically important forest lands that states identify for protection in their Assessment of Need.

• Forest Stewardship Program

  The Forest Stewardship Program encourages long-term stewardship of important state and private forest landscapes by assisting landowners to more actively manage their forest and related resources.

• Land and Water Conservation Fund

  The LWCF provides earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve historical sites, and protect the natural state of lands and waters.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is dedicated to working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continued benefit of the American people.

• Migratory Bird Conservation Fund

  The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund provides funding to projects that promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds through protection and management of populations, restoration and protection of habitat, research and monitoring, community outreach and education.

• North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)

  Grants The NAWCA program is a competitive grant program that seeks to increase bird populations and wetland habitat, while supporting local economies and American traditions such as hunting, fishing, family farming, cattle ranching, and bird watching.