Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Regional Conservation Partnership ProgramAmerican Woodcock

The DEEP Wildlife Division is a partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wildlife Management Institute in the Young Forest Initiative for At-Risk Species. This Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) includes Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

The Young Forest RCPP enhances NRCS's capacity to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners wishing to conduct practices outlined in the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The goal of the RCPP is to increase the quantity and quality of young forest habitat essential to New England cottontail rabbits, American woodcock, and more than 50 species of greatest conservation need in Connecticut.

Participating landowners may receive financial support to implement management practices, including forest and wildlife habitat planning, brush mowing, non-native invasive plant control, prescribed burning, tree/shrub plantings, early successional forest habitat management, and creation of brush piles.

Applications for cost-sharing of management practices are received by the NRCS year-round. RCPP staff working with DEEP are available to assess potential projects and provide planning and guidance for suitable projects. Those interested in the Young Forest RCPP should contact Program Biologist Lisa Wahle (860-424-4138; lisa.wahle@ct.gov) or Program Forester Joshua Miller (860-424-4044; joshua.miller@ct.gov).

The RCPP, created by the 2014 Farm Bill, is a partner-driven, locally-led approach to conservation. It is not a grant program, but promotes coordination between NRCS and partners to deliver assistance to agricultural producers and private landowners.

Focus area map highlights NW and SE CT.

Focus areas have been established based on species occurrence and landscape factors that deem certain specific geographic areas are most likely to result in positive responses to management treatments for these target wildlife species.

 

Content last updated on April 12, 2019.