DAVIS,
Calif., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is taking applications for the 2024
Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
(SWFL) initiative through the NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife
(WLFW) partnership, a collaborative approach to conserve habitat on
working lands.
"We are proud to invest more than $1M this year to assist farmers and ranchers
protect these important species on working lands," said NRCS
California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "Agriculture knows
that a healthy habitat for species benefits their operations and
NRCS is committed to helping producers achieve their conservation
goals."
WLFW is funded through NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP), the agency's flagship conservation program that
helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate
conservation into working lands. NRCS partners with federal and
state agencies, conservation organizations, and landowners that
aims to conserve wildlife habitats and species across the
country.
SGI focuses on enhancing sagebrush habitat on private lands by
addressing threats to sustainable grazing operations and maximize
benefits to sage grouse populations. In California, primary threats addressed are
invading conifers, and invasive annual grasses. Rangeland
management practices facilitate improved grazing management
resulting in healthier, more sustainable, and productive
rangelands. Implementation conservation practices have shown
positive population effects to sage grouse and other sagebrush
species.
SWFL offers technical and financial assistance to help
landowners voluntarily restore riparian areas on private
lands. This assistance helps producers plan and implement a
variety of conservation activities, or practices, that benefit the
riparian birds and agricultural operations. NRCS' Upland Wildlife
Habitat Management practice and Restoration of Rare or Declining
Natural Communities practice are used, along with supporting
conservation practices, to address habitat resource concerns for
southwest riparian bird species.
For questions regarding eligible practices and to apply, please
contact your local NRCS Service Center.
How to Apply
SGI is available to eligible producers
located within the priority areas of the following counties:
Alpine, Fresno, Inyo,
Lassen, Madera, Modoc, Mono,
Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Tuolumne counties.
SWFL is available to eligible producers located within the
priority areas of the following counties: Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern,
Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mono,
Orange, Riverside, San
Bernardino, San Diego,
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.
The deadline for SGI and SWFL applications is May 24, 2024.
Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with
private landowners and a variety of local, state, and federal
conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific,
local needs. Please visit www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov for more
information about NRCS.
Contact: Jenna Ganoung
Jenna.Ganoung@usda.gov
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SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service