Transcript Opportunities in Forestry Assistance: TSP

Longleaf Pine Initiative
In East Texas
Mary Webb-Marek
Zone Forester
USDA-NRCS
Bryan, Texas
www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov
[email protected]
Rick Williams
State Forester
USDA-NRCS
Temple, Texas
www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov
[email protected]
Longleaf Pine Initiative
 Longleaf pine forests once encompassed more than 90
million acres of the North American landscape. Today, only
three percent, or 3.4 million acres, remain and, yet, Longleaf
pine forests represent some of the world's most biologically
diverse ecosystems. The Longleaf pine ecosystem provides
critical habitat for 29 threatened and endangered species.
 The Longleaf Pine Initiative began when an
interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
among USDA, the Department of Interior and the
Department of Defense identified the longleaf pine ecosystem
as a priority resource concern.
Longleaf Pine Initiative
 As part of the initiative, NRCS and its conservation partners in
nine states are helping private landowners improve the
sustainability and profitability of Longleaf pine forest
ecosystems.
 NRCS Farm Bill conservation
programs provide landowners
technical and financial
assistance. States involved in the
initiative include Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Texas and
Virginia.
LLPI Counties in East Texas
LLPI Counties in East Texas
 Anderson
 Angelina
 Cherokee
 Hardin
 Houston
 Jasper
 Liberty
 Montgomery
 Nacogdoches
 Newton
 Polk
 Sabine
 San Augustine
 San Jacinto
 Shelby
 Trinity
 Tyler
 Walker
LLPI and EQIP
 In Fiscal Year 2013, the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI) is
included under the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP)
 EQIP addresses resource concerns
via a Conservation Plan or a Forest
Management Plan on Non-Industrial
Private Forestland (NIPF)
 Apply for EQIP/LLPI by completing the application,
Form NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application,
and submitting it to the field office in the county in which
you own land
LLPI and EQIP

EQIP sign-up is continuous, but the availability of funding
will determine the cut-off dates of application ranking
periods

In order to be eligible for EQIP, the applicant and the land
must be determined eligible by NRCS

NRCS will rank the application using criteria developed
for the Longleaf Pine Initiative funding pool
LLPI and EQIP
 If the application is selected for financial assistance, the
applicant will work with the NRCS to make an
appointment and finalize the conservation/forest
management plan and schedule of operations prior to
signing the contract for fund obligation
 Both NRCS and the participant must sign the contract
prior to implementation of any planned conservation
practices. Any practice scheduled for financial assistance
commenced prior to fund obligation is ineligible for
payment
 A Forest Management Plan is required prior to payment
on EQIP contracts addressing Non-Industrial Private
Forestland
Common Forestry Conservation Practices
under the Longleaf Pine Initiative
•
490- Forest Site Preparation
•
612- Tree/Shrub Establishment
•
666- Forest Stand Improvement
•
394- Firebreak
•
338- Prescribed Burning
Texas Partners in Longleaf Conservation

Texas A&M Forest Service

National Wild Turkey Federation

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

Texas/Louisiana Longleaf Pine Taskforce

The Longleaf Alliance
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Helping People Help the Land
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its
programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from
any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410 , Washington, D.C. 202509410 , or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or
(866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish
Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."