Longleaf Regional Conservation Partnership Program Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting Biloxi, Mississippi

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Establishes a new partnership program which consolidates four previous programs into one to support projects that improve soil quality, water quality and quantity, and/or wildlife habitat on a regional scale. 8 critical conservation areas (CCA) to be identified Avoid regulatory challenges (CWA, CAA, ESA) Regional, watershed, resource scale Longleaf potential CCA How can we best leverage new opportunities in farm bill to provide more $$ on the ground for longleaf? What are the key needs/gaps?

Key Needs –Private Lands Longleaf RCPP Key Needs –Private Lands Increase acreage of prescribed burning and other improvements on private lands. Increase capacity and coordination of private landowner technical assistance and outreach. Support Local Implementation Team capacity to understand needs and enhance conservation delivery. Improve verification and monitoring on private lands to ensure working toward better outcomes. Increase involvement of large landowners in restoration and maintenance of longleaf.

Opportunity/Potential Mechanism Longleaf RCPP Opportunity/Potential Mechanism NRCS Interests Leverage Ability to convene multiple partners and implement well coordinated strategy NFWF Opportunity $5 – 7 million new funds for longleaf Needs to be levered up significantly with add’l new funds Contribute to long-term work with large-scale impact Longleaf Stewardship Fund?

Longleaf RCPP Next Steps RFP- end of May/mid June, due in Sept.? Establish working group – what can we accomplish? Develop proposal, get feedback