North Central Florida Landowners and Producers Encouraged to Apply for 2026 Conservation Financial Assistance
July 1, 2025
Gainesville, FL - Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is accepting applications from private landowners for conservation and management financial assistance across nearly seven counties in North Central Florida. Landowners can now sign up July 1, through Thursday, July 31, 2025 to implement land management practices benefiting wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and to protect water quality. Eligible lands include non-industrial forests, grazing lands, and some crop lands. Levy and Citrus counties are included in the project area, as are portions of Alachua, Hernando, Marion, Putnam and Sumter counties.
Forest to Gulf is a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and ACT. Forest to Gulf financial assistance funds conservation efforts to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns by leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals. RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
““NRCS is proud to support the RCPP projects led by Alachua Conservation Trust. Their collaborative efforts are making a positive impact on conservation in Florida, protecting working lands and natural resources for future generations.” ”
ACT will hold a webinar Tuesday, July 8 at 1p.m. EST to review the program for landowners and conservation partners. To register visit this link.
The Forest to Gulf project focuses on conservation of forest and grassland habitat for wildlife, and groundwater protection. Priority land management practices include, but are not limited to, prescribed burning, tree planting, brush management, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, irrigation water management, nutrient management, and pasture/hay planting.
““We appreciate all the help, guidance and financial support we have received through ACT’s Forest to Gulf RCPP. I must say that this program is by far the most comprehensive, and valuable cost share program I have seen.” ”
Nash is a Forest to Gulf 2025 financial assistance land management awardee, and in the process of executing an entity-held conservation easement on Osceola Pines as part of the program.
RCPP land management contracts are administered by USDA-NRCS and are similar to other USDA-NRCS financial assistance programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). To be eligible, landowners must register with the Farm Service Agency.
Since 2023, ACT has facilitated more than $800,000 in NRCS financial assistance contracts to 31 landowners in the Forest to Gulf project area, benefiting more than 2,650 acres. Interested landowners in the Forest to Gulf land management sign-up may contact ACT at (352) 373-1078 or by email at forest2gulfrcpp@alachuaconservationtrust.org. ACT staff are available to assist landowners with understanding USDA procedures, submitting applications, and planning prior to contracting.
