Jim Bergan Lowres

8/3/2019 Jim Bergan Lowres

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Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: a ToolFor Rebuilding Louisiana Prairies

Jim Bergan, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana November 18, 2011


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Title of My Slide

Slide text to go here.


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To preserve the plants,

animals and naturalcommunities that represent

the diversity of life on earth

by protecting the lands andwaters they need to survive.


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These prairies are all vast, treeless expanses, covered

with a luxuriant growth of grass. Generally they are quitelevel, but occasionally huge swells will cross them fromside to side like mighty billows of a deep sea. The view

from one of these swells is very enchanting. Altogether Ilook upon the prairie region as naturally the loveliest

part of Louisiana."

Col. Samuel Lockett, 1870


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Attwaters Prairie Chicken: Extirpated from Louisianaby 1919


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Whooping Cranes last nested in LA in 1939, extirpated in1950. New flock reintroduced February 2011


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The Red Wolfhistorically was found

in the coastal prairieextent of Louisiana. By1980, they weredeclared extirpated


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Southwestern Louisiana...the land where naturesmiles.


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The Cajun Prairie: Acultural and biological

crossroads


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Biodiversity Continuum

Regional Scale Species

Matrix Communitiesor

Coarse Scale Species

Large Patch Communitiesor

Intermediate ScaleSpecies

Small PatchCommunities

orLocal-Scale

Species

Geo

graphic

Sca

le

Regional> 1,000,000 acres

Coarse20,000 - 1,000,000 acres

Intermediate1000 - 50,000 acres

Local< 2000 acres

Traditional Focus


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ECOLOGICAL

PROCESSES...

...ATAPPROPRIATE

ECOLOGICAL

SCALE

COASTAL PRAIRIE RESTORATION SCALE CONSIDERATIONS


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The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) isa voluntary land retirement program that helps agriculturalproducers protect environmentally sensitive land, decreaseerosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and

surface water.

WHAT IS CREP?

CREP addresses high-priority conservation issues of bothlocal and national significance, such as impacts to water

supplies, loss of critical habitat for threatened andendangered wildlife species, soil erosion, and reducedhabitat for fish populations such as salmon. CREP is acommunity-based, results-oriented effort centered aroundlocal participation and leadership.


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Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Zone


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Restoration of diverse native grassland in SWLouisianaFirst CREP nationwide to focus on prairie restorationRestoration goal: 15,050 acres

11,000 acres native grasses2,500 acres diverse grassland1,550 acres shallow water wetland

TNC payments concentrated on biodiversity practices $1,375,000 for low-diversity plantings within 3 years. $655,000 for high-diversity plantings within 3 years. $867,000 for mid-contract cost share within 15 years.


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Landowner Incentives annual rental payment $77 per acre (150% of avg) 50-100% cost share for restoration practices 30-40% practice incentive sign up payment technical support to guide restoration additional income from haying/grazing/hunting/carbon/biofuels


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Landowner Responsibilities Implement restoration plan as developed No alteration of acreage under contract

except to advance restoration Maintain/enhance habitat for 15 years


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Partners: NRCS, FSA, LA DoAg, DU 15,500-acre, $26,700,000 (Cash) prairie restoration project in SW LA.Proposed cash contributions as follows:

USDA(FSA): $21,395,844LA Department of Agriculture: $1,924,875

OSWC: $2,629,281TNC: $750,000DU: $22,000 (in-kind); other in-kind $3,970,875

15-year conservation contracts.TNC payments concentrated on biodiversity practices

$1,375,000 for low-diversity plantings within 3 years. $655,000 for high-diversity plantings within 3 years. $867,000 for mid-contract cost share within 15 years.

LOUISIANA COASTAL PRAIRIE PROJECT DESCRIPTION


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Practice Acres Estab. Cost/acre

CP 25 2,500 $524

CP 2 11,000 $250

CP 9 1,550 $735

PROJECT ESTABLISHMENT COSTS


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Total Federal Cost(includes annual

rental, mid contractmgt, practice

establishment, PIP,and SIP payments

Total Partner Cost(includes BMPMP

Payments and StateHabitat Incentive

Payments)

$21,395,375 $2,674,555


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Considerations All restoration on private lands. Without additional incentives, landowners could return land to

cultivation after 15 years although history of CRP, until

recently, has been complete re-enrollment.

TNC-LA will have to dedicate staff to ensure priority tractsenrolled, post-CREP programs in place and plant materialsprogram developed.

$750,000 is a significant amount of private funding to obligate andraise. Without TNCs contribution, acreage enrolled in program would be

reduced by approximately 50% and no acreage in highbiodiversity plantings would take place.


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Dr. Malcolm Vidrine and Larry Allain


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World Rice Prices 2005-2010


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Jim Bergan Lowres