New Jersey Keeping 

Critical Habitats SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New Jersey 

Audubon are partners in implementing a State Acres for 

Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural 

land in 18 counties from Northwest to South Jersey. The 

purpose of the New Jersey Keeping Critical Habitats SAFE 

is to restore functional grasslands, support marsh migration, 

connect wildlife corridors, and increase acreage of shallow 

water wetlands in targeted focal areas.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage vegetative covers that control soil 

erosion, improve water quality, and provide wildlife habitat.

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the New Jersey Keeping Critical Habitats 

SAFE project is to provide and protect suitable habitat for 

the bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, saltmarsh sparrow, 

monarch butterfly and American black duck. These species 

are important to New Jersey because they are in serious 

decline, and NJ plays an important role in conservation of 

these species. The state’s position in the Atlantic Flyway 

and abundance of tidal wetlands along the coast is critical 

to the continental populations of American black duck and 

saltmarsh sparrow, thousands of spring and fall migrating 

birds, and the east coast migration of monarch butterflies.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

New Jersey Keeping Critical Habitats SAFE are required 

to develop a conservation plan with assistance from the 

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

or a technical service provider. The conservation plan will 

provide details on how to plant, establish, and manage 

habitat for the bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, saltmarsh 

sparrow, monarch butterfly and American black duck. The 

habitat being established is nesting areas for area sensitive 

grassland birds; enhancement of shrub-scrub habitat for 

nesting and migratory birds; restoration of ephemeral 

wetlands and riparian habitats for reptiles, amphibians, and 

migratory birds (waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds); 

and establishment of herbaceous vegetation for monarch 

butterfly and saltmarsh sparrow. After the habitat is 

established, it will need to be maintained and managed 

by site-specific periodic disturbance, as outlined in the 

Conservation Plan. All land enrolled in grassland restoration 

through SAFE will be disturbed on a 3-year rotation. 

Disturbance type and extent will be determined by the 

Conservation Plan and will be site specific. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for special concern wildlife species, migratory birds, 

and pollinators.

MARCH 2023 NEW JERSEY

Photo Courtesy: US Fish and Wildlife Service
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The New Jersey Keeping Critical Habitats SAFE project 

area consists of all or part of the following counties: 

Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, 

Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, 

Morris, Passaic, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Union, Sussex, 

and Warren counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38A-21, Filter Strips

 CP38A-22, Riparian Buffer

 CP38A-33, Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds

 CP38A-43, Prairie Strips

 CP38B-9, Shallow Water Acres for Wildlife

 CP38B-23, Wetland Restoration

 CP38B-23A, Wetland Restoration, Non-Floodplain

 CP38C-3, Tree Planting

 CP38C-25, Rare & Declining Habitat

 CP38C-31, Bottomland Timber Establishment on 

Wetland

 CP38E-1, Establishment of Introduced Grasses and 

Legumes

 CP38E-2, Establishment of Permanent Native Grasses

 CP38E-4D, Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-12, Wildlife Food Plot

 CP38E-25, Rare & Declining Habitat

 CP38E-42, Pollinator Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Emergency and Non-Emergency Haying or Grazing will be 

allowed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, USDA Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Photo Courtesy: US Fish and Wildlife Service

fsa.usda.gov/nj
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/nj

New Jersey Keeping Critical Habitats SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023