# Caribbean Area

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## Breadcrumb

-  Home 
-  Conservation Basics 
-  Conservation by State 
-  Caribbean Area 

NRCS works hand-in-hand with the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and our eight conservation districts to improve and protect our soil, water, air, plants, animals, energy and ecosystems. 

## On This Page

            - Contact Information
            - State Programs and Initiatives
            - How to Get Assistance
            - Related News and Events

NRCS provides conservation solutions so farmers can protect natural resources and feed our islands. We work hand in hand with our communities to protect and improve the health of our soil, water, air, plants, animals and people.

Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of the Caribbean Area. By supporting their operations and helping them make improvements on their land, we help to provide economic stability in our islands. Our work supports rural economies, helps create jobs, keeps farmland in production, and provides disaster assistance to communities in need.

##   Happening in the Caribbean

        News    

###                     News                

**Press Releases | Features | Caribbean Update Newsletter**

        Events    

###                     Events                

**Events in Puerto Rico and the USVI**

        Success Stories    

###                     Success Stories                

**Caribbean success stories**

        Field Office Technical Guide    

###                     Field Office Technical Guide                

Search the **Caribbean Field Office Technical Guide**

## Caribbean Area State Office

                -    787-766-5206 
                -    654 Munoz Rivera Ave.Suite 604San Juan, PR00918 

State Office Page

## Find Your Local Service Center

    USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.  

## Our Divisions

                - The Caribbean ​ Ecological Sciences  Division provides training and resources for environmental compliance and resource concern assessment  under the NRCS  **9-step Conservation Planning**  process, and provides assistance with Agroforestry, Forage, Native Plants and other plant materials resources.
                - The Caribbean  Engineering  Division provides conservation engineering services to clients and partners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our mission is to lead innovative engineering solutions to natural resource conservation challenges in the Caribbean Area.
                - Through the National Cooperative Soil Survey, our  Soils  Division details the make-up of soils across our islands so that farmers, ranchers, and others can make informed land use decisions.
                - Operations
                - Management & Strategy

## Our Priorities

                - Promote Climate Smart Agriculture & Forestry
                - Advance Racial Justice, Equity and Opportunity
                - Create More and Better Market Opportunities
                - Tackle Food and Nutrition Insecurity
                - Make USDA a Great Place to Work for Everyone

## Our Programs

Our **Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)** offers financial incentives for farmers to not only maintain their existing level of conservation but to incorporate new or advanced conservation activities to take their stewardship to the next level. In 2022, Caribbean CSP invested over **$185,000** in new and existing conservation practices and obligated over **$265,000** in new contracts with **26** farmers to protect over **800** acres.

Our **Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)** is NRCS’ flagship financial assistance program, helping farmers make improvements to benefit agriculture and conservation. In 2022, Caribbean EQIP invested about **$4.7 million** in new conservation practices and obligated **$12.7 million** in new contracts to help **238** farmers conserve resources on over **8,000** acres.

Our **Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP)** helps local communities recover after a natural disaster. EWPP offers technical and financial assistance to help communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters. In 2021 Caribbean EWP invested over **$3.9 million** to repair **73 sites** damaged by hurricane María in Sept. 2017 and tropical storm Isaías in July 2020.

These and other programs and initiatives help producers prepare their operations for the challenges ahead – from an increasing global population to extreme weather events like severe droughts, flooding and hurricanes.

## Our Accomplishments

#### In **2022**, NRCS investments in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands yielded:

                -  **15,962** acres of conservation practices applied. 
                -  **9,514** acres of conservation planning completed. 
                -  **3,084** acres of cropland conservation applied to improve soil health and quality. 
                -  **10,591** acres of conservation applied to improve water quality. 
                -  **876** acres of conservation applied to improve irrigation efficiency. 
                -  **10,455** acres of grazing land conservation applied. 
                -  17,953 trees delivered to farmers for shade coffee, habitat enhancement and agroforestry. 
                -  **694** acres of conservation applied to improve fish and wildlife habitat. 

Check out our **USDA Caribbean Update newsletter** to find out what we've been up to!

##   More about NRCS in the Caribbean

Dig deeper into what NRCS can offer farmers, forest land owners & communities in our Caribbean paradise! Learn about local projects & initiatives, read success stories, find publications & resources.

Learn more about our services

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## State Programs and Initiatives

Environmental Quality Incentives Program - CaribbeanApply by:November 30, 2023

Conservation Stewardship Program - CaribbeanApply by:January 26, 2024

Emergency Watershed Protection - CaribbeanOctober 31, 2022

Conservation Innovation Grants - CaribbeanApply by:May 15, 2024

Regional Conservation Partnership Program - CaribbeanApply by:March 29, 2024

Caribbean Landscape Initiatives

Agricultural Conservation Easements - CaribbeanApply by:December 28, 2023

Caribbean Watershed Programs

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## State Payment Schedule

NRCS provides financial assistance for selected conservation practices. The availability and amount of financial assistance can vary between states.

Learn More

## Civil Rights Committee

The National Civil Rights Advisory Committee to the Chief (NCRACC) is designed to provide management officials and employees with counsel and advice to enhance and ensure compliance with their equal employment opportunity and program delivery responsibilities.

Learn More

## State Technical Committee

State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation.

Learn More

##   How to Get Assistance

**Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?**

Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

**Print this information

###         Step 1: Make a Plan    

**To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.**

NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.

###         Step 2: Start an Application    

**We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:**
                        - To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
                        - To meet other eligibility certifications.

Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.

###         Step 3: Check your eligibility    

**As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:**
                        - An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
                        - A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
                        - A farm number.

If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.

###         Step 4: Rank your application    

**NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them** according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.

###         Step 5: Implement your plan    

**If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.**

Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.

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## Related News and Events

Press ReleaseNRCS in the Caribbean Area Uses Streamlined Process to Accelerate High Demand Conservation Funding to Producers April 11, 2024

NewsUSDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America AgendaApril 03, 2024

NewsUSDA Seeks Partnerships to Expand Conservation on Grazing Lands  March 27, 2024

MeetingNRCS Conservation Hiring EventsApril 22-25, 2024

          -  View More News 
          -  View More Events