Special to the News Leader

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) in Louisiana announced today that it is opening an application period for the Open Pine Landscape Restoration Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. The signup period will begin on November 18 and run until December 13, 2024.  

What is RCPP? RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with like-minded conservation partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS invests with partners to implement projects that provide innovative and creative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes.  

Kelli McClelland, Louisiana Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, explained the importance of partnerships in getting conservation on the ground, “Working with our partners through these regional programs allows Louisiana NRCS to expand our conservation efforts. This RCPP is a win for NRCS, our partners, the participants, and the environment. We rely these relationships to help us achieve our mission of Helping People Help the Land.”  

Open Pine Landscape Restoration: Louisiana NRCS along with the lead State of Arkansas and the lead partner organization the American Bird Conservancy, work to improve forest health for wildlife resources. This project focuses on addressing wildlife habitat, fire management, and water quality concerns in Arkansas and Louisiana by implementing open pine forest management practices across private lands in Arkansas and Louisiana.  

Who can apply? Individuals and other entities actively engaged in agricultural production are eligible to participate in RCPP. RCPP offers a continuous application sign-up. However, to be considered for the current funding period, applications must be received by December 13th. Applicants can sign up for the 2025 program year by contacting their local USDA NRCS service center. Visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center to find your local USDA/NRCS office.