On October 11, 2024, USDA announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Pacific Islands Area is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for fiscal year 2025. These programs invest in climate smart agricultural conservation. They provide technical and financial assistance to farmers to implement conservation activities which have climate mitigation benefits, support conservation easements that can reduce greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and more. There are two application deadlines: November 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025.
EQIP, RCPP, ACEP, and CSP are funded by the Farm Bill and IRA section 21001, which appropriates funds to support climate smart agricultural conservation investments.