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Release No. 0256.10
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Contact:
Isabel Benemelis
(202) 720-7809
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USDA Adds More Acres to Habitat Restoration Projects under SAFE to Allow Landowners in Colorado and Washington to Advance Conservation Efforts
Washington, May 12, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has approved 45,000 acres for two conservation projects under the Conservation Reserve Program called "State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement," or SAFE.
"One of the important goals of SAFE initiative projects is to protect and restore habitats for rare, threatened or endangered wildlife and we are particularly interested in working with farmers and ranchers to conserve rare species before they have to be listed under the Endangered Species Act,” Vilsack said. “Interest and enrollment in this voluntary program continues to exceed our expectations, and we’re encouraged by the potential impact of these projects.”
In Douglas County, Wash., 38,000 acres will be allocated to a new SAFE initiative for sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse. Local producers can now voluntarily preserve and restore important habitat and provide additional benefits for sage-grouse, which rely on private lands. Research in Douglas County shows that over half of sage-grouse nesting activity occurs in participating Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. Meanwhile, many sharp-tailed grouse breeding and nesting activities also occur on CRP land.
An additional 7,000 acres will be allocated to the highly successful Lesser Prairie Chicken SAFE initiative in Colorado. To date, farmers and ranchers have restored or enhanced more than 2,600 acres of lesser prairie chicken habitat in southeastern Colorado by enrolling acres in SAFE. The lesser prairie chicken is a candidate for listing as threatened or endangered by U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service.
Other examples of existing SAFE initiatives include the Southeast Montana, Southwest North Dakota, and Northwest South Dakota Sagebrush – Grassland Restoration SAFE projects, which cooperatively enhance habitat for sage-grouse, sage sparrows, sage thrashers, sharp-tailed grouse, grey partridge, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and several small mammals. In Texas and New Mexico, the Lesser Prairie Chicken SAFE initiative provides habitat for lesser prairie chicken, a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, and other species.
USDA currently has 86 approved SAFE projects in 35 states covering up to 650,000 acres. USDA has three fact sheets online with descriptions of the SAFE projects and current allocations: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/safepr08.pdf http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/safepr208.pdf http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/safe10.pdf
Landowners who are interested in enrolling land in SAFE should visit their local FSA service center.
Under SAFE, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, farm groups, and other conservation partners determined geographic areas where enrollment of farm land in CRP would benefit threatened, endangered or other high priority species. Project partners then developed conservation proposals that included enrolling land in the designated geographic areas in CRP using existing CRP practices for the benefit of specific species of concern. Last year, USDA accepted SAFE proposals developed by these organizations. FSA evaluated SAFE proposals to determine whether the selected practices would create the desired habitat. To be accepted by FSA, SAFE proposals had to be approved by wildlife professionals and include a wildlife monitoring and evaluation plan.
SAFE is a wildlife management tool that helps state and regional agencies, non-profit organizations and others address local wildlife objectives through habitat restoration. SAFE provides conservation partners the flexibility to create projects and install conservation practices that target the specific needs of high-value wildlife species. By developing SAFE projects, these organizations and their partners enhance the effectiveness of CRP by helping to establish higher-quality habitat and healthier ecosystems for species of concern and other wildlife. More information about SAFE is at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/safe10.pdf.
Under CRP, farmers and ranchers enroll eligible land in 10- to 15-year contracts with USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). FSA administers CRP on behalf of CCC. Participants plant appropriate cover such as grasses and trees in crop fields and along streams. These plantings help prevent soil and nutrients from running into regional waterways and affecting water quality. The long-term vegetative cover also improves wildlife habitat and soil quality.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
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