2.1 The NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

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. ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands, and protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses. The benefits, eligibility, and the process will all be presented.