Preserve Rhode Island’s Ag Lands, Wetlands, and Forest Lands with USDA Conservation Easements

NRCS in Rhode Island encourages property owners and eligible entities to apply for conservation easements to protect working ag lands and wetlands through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and forestland through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect farmland and ranchland through conservation easements. ACEP has two components:

• Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and state and local governments to protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches through conservation easements. Ag land easements can protect the long-term viability of Rhode Island's food supply by preventing conversion of productive farmland to non-agricultural uses. Easements are crucial to protecting farmland from urban encroachment. Easements also can be used to protect floodplains, grasslands, and forests, providing public benefits like water quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat, and open space protection.
• Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands that have been previously degraded by agricultural uses. Wetland easements enhance and protect habitat for wildlife, reduce flooding impacts, recharge groundwater, protect natural vitality, and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands by purchasing easements, and eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement.

The RI Forest Health Works Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)Project protects Rhode Island's privately owned forestlands for wildlife habitat through Entity-Held Easements that help private and tribal landowners, in partnership with land trusts or other entities like state and local governments, to protect forestlands by placing conservation easements.

NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round but sets specific ranking dates to evaluate applications for funding. These dates account for farmers' needs, staff workload, and ensure potential participants have ample opportunity to apply. Applications for ACEP Ag Land Easements, Wetland Reserve Easements or RCPP Entity Held Forest Easementsthat meet eligibility and ranking criteria that are received by April 24, 2026, will be considered for this round of fiscal year 2026 funding.

Applications received after this ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period. Call or visit your local NRCS Field Office or Conservation District Office for more information.

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