Do you have forest land? Have you been managing it? Would you like to get paid to continue that good work and implement one new activity? Or, are you new to forest management? Wherever you are in your forestland journey, you will want to read this!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are co-sponsoring an online Funding Opportunities for Conservation Practices program on Monday, February 5th at 6 pm for the forest land community on opportunities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and DCR’s Stewardship Program.
CSP helps agricultural producers, including non-industrial private forest landowners take the conservation activities on their operations to the next level though a five-year contract. It provides a payment (minimum $4000/year) for maintaining the current conservation efforts on the land and for implementing new conservation activities. At least one new activity is required to participate in the program.
In this program, a Massachusetts forest landowner will discuss his experience in receiving a recent CSP contract. NRCS will explain the eligibility requirements, payment structure and available conservation activities.
This is a timely meeting as MA has received additional funding for CSP, and other programs, through the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate and conservation investment in history. Learning more and contacting your local NRCS office is the first step to applying for CSP or other programs for future funding.
Alison Wright-Hunter and Michael Downey from DCR will provide updates on the Massachusetts Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) and other opportunities from the DCR’s Working Forest Initiative.
To take part in this program, register by February 2nd at
If you have any questions, you may contact Kate Parsons, Resource Conservationist, NRCS at kate.parsons@usda.gov or 413-253-4380.
If you require special accommodation in order to participate fully in this online meeting, please contact Kate by Monday, January 29, 2024.