Conservation Programs

Conservation programs range from technical assistance to financial cost share programs. Most programs are created in response to national priorities and funding for the entire state. Florida then receives applications throughout the year, and prioritizes individual programs based on merit and criteria established at the state level through Local Working Groups. Once prioritization has been completed and funds have been allocated to the state, funding assistance grants are awarded. Each year, millions of dollars help protect water and soil, environmental amenities, wildlife and wetlands in the state. If you are a landowner interesting in any of the programs, contact is so that we may connect you with the technical experience needed to ensure your conservation needs can be met. 

If you wish to request technical assistance from the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District, please fill out our assistance form and return to our email or physical address. 

Environmental Quality Incentives

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was established in the 1996 Farm Bill to provide a single, voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers to address significant natural resource needs and objectives. At the national level, half of the program's resources are targeted to livestock-related natural resource problems and the other half to more general conservation priorities.

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) was designed to help landowners and those who are in control of acreage develop and preserve important wildlife habitat for future generations. The program offered technical assistance and cost-sharing opportunities for developing a wildlife habitat development plan and for managing the land in accordance with that plan.  Portions of the WHIP Statute were rolled into the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Anyone still interested in applying for wildlife projects in programs should go to the EQIP web page.

Conservation Easement Program

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.​ NRCS may contribute to working farms  up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.