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Guidance

Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation 

Links Updated March 20, 2024 

1. Purpose and Scope

The general natural resources and biodiversity conservation requirement of the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations at 7 CFR 205.200 requires operations to “maintain or 

improve the natural resources of the operation, including soil and water quality.” Section 205.2 

of the regulations defines “natural resources of the operation” as the “physical, hydrological, and 

biological features of a production operation, including soil, water, wetlands, woodlands, and 

wildlife” [emphasis added]. “Organic production” is defined as a “production system that is 

managed to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological and mechanical

practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity” 

[emphasis added]. 

The preamble to the final rule establishing the NOP explained, “[t]he use of ‘conserve’ [in the

definition of organic production] establishes that the producer must initiate practices to support 

biodiversity and avoid, to the extent practicable, any activities that would diminish it. 

Compliance with the requirement to conserve biodiversity requires that a producer incorporate

practices in his or her organic system plan that are beneficial to biodiversity on his or her 

operation” (76 FR 80563). 

Given the broad scope of these definitions, “maintain[ing] or improve[ing] natural resources in

organic production” necessarily encompasses a range of conservation principles, including, but 

not limited to: protecting riparian areas; supporting native species and habitat; minimizing

invasive species; maintaining air quality; promoting crop diversity and plant condition; and 

improving soil condition. This guidance provides examples of production practices that support 

these conservation principles and demonstrate compliance with 7 CFR 205.200. 

This guidance also clarifies: 1) the certified organic operator’s responsibility to select, carry out, 

and record production practices that “maintain or improve the natural resources of the

operation;” 2) the accredited certifying agent’s (certifier) responsibility to verify operator 

compliance with this requirement; and 3) how domestic organic operations that participate in a

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program and the National Organic 

Program (NOP) can reduce their paperwork burdens. 

This guidance applies to all certifiers, certified organic operations, and new applicants for 

certification.
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2. Background

The conservation of natural resources and biodiversity is a primary tenet of organic production. 

For instance, native vegetation interspersed throughout a certified organic operation provides 

food, cover, and corridors for beneficial organisms such as pollinators, slows water down for 

erosion control and groundwater recharge, and filters pollution. Using practices that attract or 

introduce beneficial insects, provide habitat for birds and mammals, and provide conditions that

increase soil biotic diversity serve to supply vital ecological services to organic production 

systems. Advantages to certified organic operations that implement these types of production 

practices include: 1) decreased dependence on outside fertility inputs; 2) reduced pest 

management costs; 3) more reliable sources of clean water; and 4) better pollination. 

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a federal advisory committee that advises the 

USDA on organic issues, has made multiple recommendations related to natural resources 

conservation and biodiversity. The May 2009 NOSB recommendation asked the NOP to 

establish: 1) consistent discussion and review of biodiversity protection and enhancement in all 

certified operations’ organic system plans; 2) increased education and information for certified 

operations, inspectors, and certifiers; 3) uniformity of inspection and certification procedures 

with regard to how certified operations implement the biodiversity standards; 4) incorporation of 

biodiversity standards into the procedures for accreditation and certifier audits; and 5) use of 

materials evaluation criteria that foster consideration of biodiversity conservation when adding 

or deleting materials from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.1 This 

guidance addresses the first three components of the recommendation. Its purpose is to give 

operators and certifiers examples of activities that would fulfill natural resource and biodiversity 

conservation requirements. 

3. Policy and Procedures

Role of Certified Organic Operations 

• Certified organic operations and applicants for certification must develop and submit an

organic system plan (OSP) to a certifier (7 CFR 205.201).

• In the OSP, the operation must describe or list activities (plans, practices and

enhancements) that explain how it will comprehensively conserve biodiversity by

maintaining or improving all natural resources, including soil, water, wetlands,

woodlands, and wildlife, as required by § 205.200 of the regulations and per the § 205.2

definition of Natural resources of the operation. In many cases, the certifier will provide

the operation with an OSP template with a designated section for the operation to

describe its activities and its biodiversity monitoring approach (e.g., visual assessment of

soil erosion, species counts for biodiversity, or testing for water quality).

1 NOSB Recommendation on Biodiversity Conservation. May 2009. Available on the NOP Web site, 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/NOP%20Final%20Rec%20Biodiversity.pdf.
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• Certified operations may reference Appendix A to understand the types of production

practices that could be used to support natural resources conservation and biodiversity.

• For certified operations that also participate in USDA Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) activities (e.g., conservation planning, Conservation Stewardship

Program (CSP), or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), etc.):

o The operation can reference Appendix A to identify which practices may be

supported through NRCS as part of its conservation programs.

o The operation may refer to a current conservation plan and/or contract developed

in conjunction with NRCS2 or other conservation agency or non-governmental

organization as part of their OSP, to meet the requirements of 7 CFR 205.200.

• For split operations or for operations that have non-certified portions of their property,

the operation can also describe in its OSP the practices implemented to maintain or

improve natural resources or biodiversity on a portion of their land that is not certified

but is adjacent to the certified land, if this practice directly benefits the certified land.

o For example, an operation may install grassed waterways or riparian strips at

locations adjacent to its certified crops. When successfully implemented and

maintained, these features would support the operation’s overall water and soil

quality. The operation could include a description of these activities in its OSP.

• The operation must implement and maintain the planned production practices as

described in its OSP and maintain any records (e.g., activity logs for mowing, pest

monitoring, limits on livestock access to waterways, reseeding areas, grazing rotations;

water or soil testing results; visual observations; or conservation maps) that would

support a certifier’s ability to verify compliance.

Role of Certifiers

• Certifiers must ensure that an operation’s OSP describes or lists practices that explain the

operation’s monitoring plan and practices to comprehensively support natural resources

and biodiversity conservation, pursuant to § 205.200 of the regulations.

• Certifiers can refer to Appendix A for examples of activities (plans, practices, and

enhancements) that may support compliance with 7 CFR 205.200.

• A certified operation’s monitoring plan could include the frequency of monitoring, the

types of observations or testing the operation plans to conduct, and the method of

documentation.

• Certifiers must verify compliance with 7 CFR 205.200 by ensuring that certified organic

operations are implementing their planned production practices to conserve natural

resources and biodiversity. As part of the onsite inspection, certifiers should ensure that

2

 Organic crop and livestock producers who are located in the United States and its territories and who are planning to transition land to organic 

production may be eligible for technical and financial assistance through NRCS to develop and implement plans for addressing natural resource 

concerns. One option is to work with an NRCS’s certified outside vendor or Technical Service Provider (TSP), to complete a Conservation 

Activity Plan (CAP) 138. To reduce paperwork, the National Organic Program (NOP) developed Resource Inventory Supplements as a 

companion to the CAP 138 Resource Inventory (Section 1). Instead of completing a full separate organic system plan (OSP) for their certifier, 

organic producers who are approved for and complete a CAP 138 may submit to their certifiers the CAP 138 Resource Inventory section together 

with the necessary Resource Inventory Supplement(s). When submitted together, these documents contain all the required components of a 

complete OSP. For more information visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2616.pdf
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inspectors observe the conservation practices implemented, or review records that 

support implementation of conservation practices.

• If a certified operation is implementing practices to conserve natural resources or

biodiversity on a portion of its land that is not covered under its organic certification but

is adjacent to the certified land, and this practice directly benefits the certified land, then

the inspector and certifier may consider such practices in the assessment of whether a

producer meets the requirements.

• Pursuant to 7 CFR 205.504, certifiers should ensure that inspectors are sufficiently

qualified to effectively assess compliance with the general natural resources conservation

and biodiversity requirement at 7 CFR 205.200. Qualifications may include, but are not

limited to, the inspector’s knowledge, training, and experience observing and assessing

conservation activities and monitoring in organic production.

Role of Inspectors

• Inspectors must be qualified to assess compliance with 7 CFR 205.200. More

specifically, inspectors must be able to recognize and evaluate areas where: 1) natural

resources and biodiversity are already conserved; 2) conservation projects are planned;

and 3) improvement is needed.

• During the onsite inspection, inspectors must verify the accuracy and implementation of

the operation’s production activities (plans, activities and enhancements) and monitoring

approach that support the general natural resources conservation and biodiversity

requirement, as described by the operation in its OSP. Inspectors may also review

implementation of the operation’s production activities in relation to CAP 138

documentation submitted in place of a traditional OSP.

• During the onsite inspection, inspectors may note exceptions to the conservation

requirement such as extreme climatic conditions, or damage to the ecosystem beyond the

control of the operation. The inspector should communicate this information to the

certifier for consideration as part of its review and certification decision.

4. References

USDA Organic Regulations (7 CFR Part 205) 

7 CFR 205.2 Terms Defined. 

Crop rotation. The practice of alternating the annual crops grown on a specific field in a 

planned pattern or sequence in successive crop years so that crops of the same species or 

family are not grown repeatedly without interruption on the same field. Perennial 

cropping systems employ means such as alley cropping, intercropping, and hedgerows to 

introduce biological diversity in lieu of crop rotation.

Natural resources of the operation. The physical, hydrological, and biological features of 

a production operation, including soil, water, wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. 
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Organic production. A production system that is managed to respond to site-specific 

conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling 

of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. 

Pasture. Land used for livestock grazing that is managed to provide feed value and 

maintain or improve soil, water, and vegetative sources.

Soil and water quality. Observable indicators of the physical, chemical, or biological 

condition of soil and water, including the presence of environmental contaminants. 

7 CFR 205.200 General. 

7 CFR 205.202 Land requirements. 

7 CFR 205.203 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard.

7 CFR 205.205 Crop rotation practice standard. 

7 CFR 205.206 Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard.

7 CFR 205.207 Wild-crop harvesting practice standard.

7 CFR 205.238 Livestock health care practice standard.

7 CFR 205.239 Livestock living conditions. 

7 CFR 205.240 Pasture practice standard.

NOSB Recommendations 

Joint Crops & Compliance, Accreditation, and Certification Committee, NOSB

Recommendation, “Implementation of Biodiversity Conservation in Organic Agriculture 

Systems,” May 2009. 

Other Laws and Regulations

Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.

Original Issue Date: December 29, 2014
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Appendix A 

Examples of Activities (Plans, Practices, and Enhancements) that May Maintain or Improve 

Natural Resources and Biodiversity

Throughout the U.S. and the world, topography, climate, soils, and biodiversity vary widely. The 

following examples outline beneficial activities within certain ecological contexts that organic 

operations may use to maintain or improve biodiversity in their operations. This is not an 

exhaustive list. There are many other activities in varied ecological settings that operations can 

use to reach the same compliance goal.

Topics

NRCS 

Assistance 

May Be 

Available3

Examples of Activities4

Examples Relevant to All Types of Organic Certification

Soil 

Composition 



Adding organic matter through the diversity of crops and 

inputs, to the soil to increase the diversity of soil organisms and 

to improve nutrient cycling, competitive exclusion of plant 

pathogens, long-term storage of soil carbon, and adaption to 

extreme climatic conditions and water holding capacity.



Conserving and restoring forests, shrublands, woodlands, 

grasslands, riparian area5 and wetland areas, which sequester 

carbon in soils and aid in cycling soil nutrients.

Soil Stability 

and Water 

Quality



Creating, conserving, and restoring vegetative covers (forests, 

shrublands, woodlands, grasslands, riparian areas, and wetland 

areas) that control erosion and filter nutrient, pesticide, and 

pathogen pollutants. Minimizing disturbances, maximizing 

diversity, living roots and cover.



Using no-till or permanent cover, conservation tillage, 

terracing, contour farming, micro-irrigation, windbreaks, cover 

crops, grass waterways and soil health practices.

3 NRCS assistance options are listed at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance. NRCS staff and technical service providers may reference 

this chart as part of conservation planning for organic producers.

4 While NRCS publishes national Conservation Practice Standards (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/conservationpractice-standards), each State has its own technical standards and specifications, which can be accessed electronically through the NRCS Field 

Office Technical Guide (http://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/) or by contacting your local USDA Service Center 

(https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app). 5

 “Riparian areas are plant communities contiguous to and affected by surface and subsurface hydrologic features of perennial or intermittent lotic 

and lentic [moving and standing] water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes, or drainage ways). Riparian areas have one or both of the following 

characteristics: 1) Distinctly different vegetative species than adjacent areas. 2) Species similar to adjacent areas but exhibiting more vigorous or 

robust growth forms. Riparian areas are usually transitional between wetland and upland.” Definition from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, A 

System for Mapping Riparian Areas in The Western United States, Nov 2009.
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

For lands coming into production for the first time or returning 

to production (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

lands leaving the federal program and requesting organic 

certification), a new conservation plan can examine and 

implement a range of alternative practices to enhance the 

natural resources of the land.

Water 

Quantity

 Using water conservation techniques that save water for crops, 

livestock, wildlife, and riparian ecosystems.

Choosing crops and other plants that are appropriate for the 

climate and landscape with water conservation in mind.

 Using suitable irrigation systems and schedules and monitoring 

them for water conservation.



Conserving or restoring forests, shrublands, woodlands, 

grasslands, riparian habitat, and wetland areas that absorb and 

hold water for long periods as part of a healthy water cycling 

process.

 Using managed systems to “bank” soil moisture if fields are 

drained using tiles.

Wildlife 

Benefits 

Maintaining or improving diverse mixtures of plants to provide 

food, habitat, or shelter for pollinators, insects, spiders and 

other beneficial organisms such as arthropods, bats, and 

raptors.

Native 

Species and 

Natural 

Areas of the 

Operation



Conserving high conservation value6 areas that have 

outstanding biodiversity7 importance, or mitigating/restoring 

these areas elsewhere on the farm.



Conserving and restoring wildlife and native plant communities 

specific to the site (forests, shrublands, woodlands, grasslands, 

riparian habitat, and wetland areas).



Documenting rare, threatened, and endangered terrestrial and 

aquatic plants and animals8 and ecologically at-risk 

ecosystems9 and taking steps to protect them.

 Conserving wildlife corridors and large blocks of habitat that 

reduce fragmentation.

6 High conservation value area has a biological, ecological, social or cultural value of outstanding significance or critical importance. Definition 

from HCV Resource Network. https://www.hcvnetwork.org/ 7 Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the diversity of life existing at three levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem. Therefore, biological 

diversity (biodiversity) includes variety in all forms of life, from bacteria and fungi to grasses, ferns, trees, insects, and mammals. It encompasses 

the diversity found at all levels of organization, from genetic differences between individuals and populations (groups of related individuals) to 

the types of natural communities (groups of interacting species) found in a particular area. Biodiversity also includes the full range of natural 

processes upon which life depends, such as nutrient cycling, carbon and nitrogen fixation, predation, symbiosis and natural succession. Definition 

from the May 2009 NOSB recommendation. 8 The NatureServe database (http://explorer.natureserve.org/) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service database provide information on the 

conservation status of area plants and animals in the U.S. and Canada. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Key Biodiversity Areas, as

indicated in the IBAT for Business Tool (https://www.ibat-alliance.org/) and Biodiversity for Business guide 

(https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2014-004.pdf), provides information on the conservation status of plants, animals, and areas 

internationally.

9 The NatureServe webpages (https://explorer.natureserve.org/) and (https://www.natureserve.org/documenting-species-ecosystems) provide tools 

for defining “at risk” ecosystems, and learning about ecosystems in general, but do not have a function to track locations of “at risk” ecosystems. 

The best available conservation tracking tools are for those for tracking species.
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 Making improvements to streams, lakes, and rivers, enhancing

habitat for fish and other aquatic species.

Allowing degraded riparian areas, prairies, and wetlands to be 

recolonized through natural processes.

 Actively restoring degraded land to its native habitat using 

species adapted to and historically present in the area.10

Invasive 

Plants and 

Animals

 Closely monitoring invasive plants11 12 and animals threatening 

natural areas.

 Controlling invasive species before they spread.

Avoiding seed, planting stock, soil amendments, and mulches 

that may import weed seeds and other pests.

Examples Specific to Crop Operations

Soil Stability 

and Water 

Quality

 Using nutrient budgets to protect water quality by managing 

crop nutrients.



Designing grassed waterways, filter strips, terraces, and other 

non-crop vegetation, and managing them to help control 

erosion and filter pollutants before they reach water bodies.



Using stream crossings, brush mattresses, and other engineered 

features to prevent erosion where year-round or intermittent 

water flows.

 Using sediment basins to capture eroded or disturbed soil

before it leaves the farm.

Co-existing 

with Wildlife

 Taking measures to minimize total habitat loss on adjacent land 

when wildlife is restricted from entering the production area.

Designing and using management strategies as much as 

possible to repel, rather than destroy, intended and unintended 

species.

Supporting 

Wildlife  Using strategic mowing, tilling, and harvesting methods to preserve sites where wildlife raise their young.

Crop 

Diversity

Growing a variety of crop types, heirloom crops, or several 

genetic strains of the same crop.

Growing locally adapted seed varieties or those suited to sitespecific conditions.

Examples Specific to Livestock Operations

Soil Stability 

and 

Managing the frequency, intensity, and timing of grazing and 

forage harvests to protect soil and water quality. Manure 

management including storage and feedlot runoff.

10 The NRCS PLANTS database (http://plants.usda.gov) provides information on native plants in each county of the U.S. 11 Invasive plants and animals are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause 

economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human 

actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions. Definition from the National Invasive Species Information Center 

www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/

12 The National Invasive Species Information Center website (http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/) provides information on invasive species in 

each state of the U.S., and the Global Invasive Species Database (https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/) provides information on invasive species 

internationally. 
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Water 

Quality  Controlling access to sensitive riparian areas and wetlands as much as possible.

Wildlife  Composing pasture plantings of diverse species and managing 

them to support livestock and native species.

Co-existing 

with Wildlife

Using non-lethal predator control before lethal methods (e.g.,

guard animals, grazing large and small animals together, 

grazing when predation is low, wildlife escape ramps, or 

housing vulnerable animals overnight).



Encouraging diverse native landscapes that support natural 

prey for carnivorous animals to reduce their predation of 

livestock.

 Using wildlife-friendly fencing.

Livestock 

Diversity

Raising a variety of livestock, including heirloom breeds, or 

different breeds of the same livestock.

Preserving locally adapted livestock breeds, or raising those 

well suited to site-specific conditions.

Examples Specific to Wild Harvest Operations

Soil Stability 

and Water 

Quality

Using practices for wild harvest that maintain or improve soil 

stability.

Using practices for wild harvest that maintain or improve water 

quality.

Native 

Species and 

Natural 

Areas of the 

Operation

Maintaining the sustainability of harvested native plants and 

animals and associated species when determining the quantity 

and timing of the wild harvest.