USDA announces sign-up for hardwood tree initiative to restore up to 500,000 acres of river floodplains
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Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the start of the sign-up for a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative to restore up to 500,000 acres of floodplains by planting bottomland hardwood trees on private lands, authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to help improve our environment through the sequestration of over one million metric tons of greenhouse gases,” said Veneman. “This initiative will help restore critical wildlife habitat, while improving water quality and reducing the impacts of floods.” “States are allocated specific amounts of acreage based on their pro-rata share of eligible acreage to ensure nationwide protection of vital floodplains,” said Deputy Agriculture Secretary James Moseley during a visit to Riva Ridge Farm that commenced two days of visits in Mississippi that also featured stops at Alcorn State University. “While farmers and ranchers within most states may be eligible, the initiative is targeted toward areas in the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River valleys and the southern coastal plain.” Bottomland hardwoods are streamside forest trees, including oak, maple, ash, cypress and tupelo. These trees grow generally on lands that are periodically flooded. The initiative will protect against future flood damage by slowing the flow of water and shoring up soil. Each enrolled site will be restored to an ecologically diverse forest type. Eligible land must be located within a 100-year floodplain, comprised of primarily wetland soils and adjacent to permanent rivers and streams. States are allocated specific amounts of acreage based on their pro-rata share of eligible acreage, which will ensure nationwide protection of vital floodplains. While farmers and ranchers within most states may be eligible, the initiative is especially targeted toward states in the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio River valleys and the southern coastal plain. The breakdown of allocated acreage per state is as follows:
Program participants will receive 50 percent of the cost to establish the trees, an annual rental payment for 14 to 15 years, and technical assistance to plant the trees. Participants will also retain their right to sell or market their carbon-sequestered gains (often referred to as credits) that are produced from bottomland hardwoods, or other environmental credits, to energy companies or whomever they choose. Sign-up for the hardwood tree initiative is on a continuous basis, meaning eligible land may be enrolled at any time at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
