By Andrew Berry
Funds support Kentucky landowners to protect forests, wildlife, and benefit climate goals
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, and Kentucky Natural Lands Trust now have a new tool to help landowners protect their natural land – a $6.8 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).
The grant is provided through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and will help Kentucky landowners use conservation easements for protecting forests, wildlife, and connecting natural land corridors. The Greater Bernheim RCPP Project also includes support for outreach and education activities for conservation, water, and land stewardship.
Bernheim Executive Director Mark Wourms said the use of conservation easements will provide climate benefits now and in the future. The award will also leverage considerable funds to Kentucky that support the regional economy via payments to landowners.
“We are thrilled that the Greater Bernheim RCPP Project has been chosen as one of these important projects across the nation,” Dr. Wourms said. “These dollars will go directly to landowners helping them preserve the land that they love, in some cases helping to keep land in families across generations and will be a benefit to the regional economy.”
Andrew Berry, Bernheim Director of Conservation, stated that “the Greater Bernheim RCPP Project will preserve forests, wildlife, and iconic knobs landscapes that are an important part of the local heritage in Kentucky,” Berry said. “Studies show natural lands contribute to quality of life and health of communities by providing enrichment through wildlife, recreation, scenic beauty, and ecosystem services such as clean air and water.”
OKNP Executive Director Zeb Weese said the Greater Bernheim area is one of Kentucky’s biodiversity hotspots.
“This project will allow our partnership to work with interested landowners to conserve endangered species populations and other important habitats on private property,” Weese said. “Over 90 percent of Kentucky is privately owned, so it’s very exciting to have NRCS give us this opportunity to help private landowners conserve their property.”
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust Executive Director Greg Abernathy added “…large landscape conservation depends on the power of partnership. NRCS is a welcome partner in our efforts, their RCPP funding will help advance the innovative and meaningful conservation work underway in the region.”
Through RCPP, conservation partners collaborate with NRCS to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners throughout the nation implement systems that conserve water and soil resources, improve the health of wildlife habitats, and increase climate resilience.
Nationally, NRCS is investing a total of $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability.
Terry Cosby, Acting Chief for USDA-NRCS, said the 85 new projects will help enact change needed to combat the climate crisis.
“The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is public-private partnership working at its best,” Cosby said. “These new projects will harness the power of partnership to help bring about solutions to natural resource concerns across the country.”
Click here for more information on the RCPP announcement.
Click here for a map of RCPP projects awarded in 2021.