Are you a forestland owner looking to improve your woodland habitat for important bird species, and manage your woods for wildlife and people?

Connecticut NRCS, in partnership with The Last Green Valley (TLGV), the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership (MassConn) and the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD) has announced a sign-up period from now until April 17, 2020 for woodland landowners who want to improve bird habitat and forest health on their property through implementation of forestry practices.  Eligibility requirements include the land be within the priority area, that the applicant currently have a forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment, and be ready for implementation.

Applications due by April 17, 2020.

Additional eligibility for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will also apply.

Obtaining a management plan and an assessment requires having a professional forester walk your property and coordinate with the Audubon Society to produce a high-quality forest management plan that includes bird habitat. The plan will contain recommendations for management measures that align with your goals for the property and will meet federal and state requirements and may be used to apply for property tax reductions at the local level (where applicable). Interested landowners who don’t yet have such a plan may also be eligible for funding directly through the partnership.  More information is available on forest management plans at The Last Green Valley’s website.

The program is part of the $6.1 million Southern New England Heritage Forest conservation effort, an unprecedented three-state collaboration made possible through the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS funding is being matched. The Last Green Valley has been funding these combination plans for several years, so the goal is to open an implementation program so people who have secured a plan may now get the funding they need to begin.

Applications due by April 17, 2020 

To find out more, contact your local NRCS Service Center:

• Danielson (860) 779-0557
• Hamden (203) 287-8038
• Norwich (860) 887-9941
• Torrington (860) 626-8852
• Windsor (860) 688-7725

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).