The USDA will invest up to $50 million in fiscal year 2024 through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) to support conservation partners with local projects.
Those projects should help protect, restore, and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands and help mitigate climate change. With funding from the 2018 Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, WREP empowers eligible conservation partners to work with local agriculture producers to protect, restore, and enhance high-priority wetlands on agricultural lands. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting proposals until August 16, 2024. NRCS is prioritizing proposals that focus on producers who conserve wetlands or that are anticipated to benefit disadvantaged communities, contributing to NRCS’ efforts to advance equity and environmental justice in its delivery of conservation programs.
“Our goal is to help mitigate climate change through our conservation programs while improving critical natural resources like wetlands and wildlife habitat,” says NRCS Chief Terry Cosby.