Conservation Planning Productive lands, healthy environment.

A conservation plan is the first step in managing natural resources in the landscape. with Natural Resources Conservation (NRCS) advice, a landowner selects the best combination of conservation practices to meet both natural resource needs and his or her individual land management goals.

The plan combines the client's land management skills with NRCS science-based technology to help ensure:

• Clean water

• Clean air

• Quality soil

• Abundant wildlife

• Heathy environment

What a conservation plan includes:

After soil, water, air, plant, and animal and human resource considerations are inventoried and evaluated, a Certified Conservation Planner will suggest several options. The landowner's decisions are recorded in the conservation plan, which becomes his or her roadmap for better management of natural resources.

A conservation plan includes:

• Landowner-determined goals

• Aerial photograph or diagram of the land

• Soils map and soils descriptions

• Resource inventory data, such as forage or crop production potential

• List of landowner's conservation decisions

• Location and schedule for applying conservation practices and systems

• Maintenance information for installed conservation measures

Benefits of a Conservation Plan

A conservation plan ensures that the land's unique natural resources are managed in the best possible way, while maintaining sustainability and productivity.

Other benefits of a conservation plan:

• Helps landowner comply with environmental regulations

• Qualifies landowner for USDA conservation programs that can help him or her implement conservation measures

• Adapts to changing farm or ranch operational goals

• Establishes an implementation schedule that fits landowner's timetable and resources

For More Information:

To learn more about conservation planning, contact the NRCS office in a local USDA Service Center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov