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Southern Guam Authorized for Conservation Security Program

MONGMONG, April 10, 2008—Eligible farmers and ranchers can sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) starting on April 18 through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The designated watersheds for CSP in 2008 is Southern Guam. There are approximately 67 farms eligible that cover 725 acres of farmland.

"NRCS is committed to providing a fair and equitable program that rewards our leading conservationists," said Lawrence Yamamoto, NRCS Director of the Pacific Islands Area.

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards those producers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations.

Payments can include three components: 1) an annual stewardship component for the base level of conservation treatment, 2) an annual component for maintenance of existing conservation practices, and 3) an enhancement component for exceptional conservation effort. Enhancement activities could include limited pesticide applications, renewable energy generation, and widening existing riparian forest buffers for restoring critical stream habitat.

To apply for CSP, NRCS asks potential participants to complete a CSP self-assessment workbook—available on the Web or from local Guam NRCS offices—to find out if their operation meets the requirements of the program and qualifies for program participation. The self-assessment process is completed using a self-screening questionnaire for each land use to be enrolled. When this process is completed, the producer submits the CSP workbook to the local Guam NRCS office during the sign-up period and meets with NRCS personnel to go over any additional needed documentation. NRCS will then determine if eligibility requirements are met and provide options for the producer's decision on enrollment category placement.

NRCS held the first CSP sign-up in 2004. Today's announcement brings the number of watersheds enrolled to 331 across the nation, covering 247.7 million acres that have been eligible for the program. CSP is offered on a rotational basis in as many watersheds as funding allows. Additional information on CSP, including eligible watersheds and a CSP self-assessment workbook is available at http://www.hi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

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