Conservation Planning Information and Resources

This page includes links to available conservation planning tools, policies, training and guidance.

Conservation Planning (NRCS Course Modules 1-5)
The purpose of the course is to prepare the participant to be able to independently apply the NRCS planning process, and to utilize supporting technology, in order to assist clients in making decisions resulting in conservation plans that protect, conserve, and enhance natural resources and meet the client's needs. This training has been revised in a cooperative effort between the Conservation Operations Division, NHQ and the National Employee Development Center.  For more information, connect to the course overview.

The following document requires  Adobe Reader.

Conservation Planning Questionnaire - Vermont NRCS (PDF; 268 KB)
This document is intended to assist you and the conservation planner gather the preliminary information necessary to begin formulation of a conservation plan. If you are interested in working with Vermont NRCS to create a plan, complete as many of the following questions which are applicable to your land or farm operation, as possible.  Completion of the questionnaire gets you started on the conservation planning process.  After completing the questionnaire, contact your local USDA Service Center NRCS office.  Ask for a conservation planner to help you with the remaining steps of the planning process toward completion of your conservation plan.

The following document requires Microsoft Excel.
Please visit the Vermont Accessibility Web Page if you need accessibility help with Excel files.

CPA-52 & Resource Inventory Assessment Workbook - Vermont NRCS (XLT; 1,520 KB)
This workbook provides Vermont NRCS conservation planners a consistent process to provide farmers and landowners with information related to resource assessments which have been conducted, resource concerns which have been identified, and conservation planning alternatives which are being presented by the conservation planner. It also provides an updated Vermont CPA-52 document format.

The following document requires Microsoft Excel.
Please visit the Vermont Accessibility Web Page if you need accessibility help with Excel files.

CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet - CRP / CReP (XLT; 33 KB)
The form NRCS-CPA-52 is the tool used to summarize the effects of conservation practices and systems. It also provides summary documentation of the environmental evaluation (EE) of the planned actions.  This version provides a Farm Service Agency signature block, and is used specifically for CRP or CReP planning.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Planning Procedures - VT NRCS
Procedural guidance for Vermont NRCS conservation planners to ensure compliance with the ESA in Vermont.

National Planning Procedures Handbook
Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation planning process documentation.  From eDirectives web page, select 'Handbooks, Title 180, Part 600'.

Nutrient Management Planning Information
Information and tools available from NRCS, University of Vermont, and other sources for nutrient management and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans.

Resource Management System Planning Information
These pages provide information regarding conservation practices typically used to address resource concerns on various land uses.  Planning and  implementation of these conservation practices often comprise the core of a Resource Management System conservation plan.

Tools For Resource Management System Planning
Tools available on this site have been developed specifically for use in RMS conservation planning within Vermont.

The following document requires  Microsoft Excel and Adobe Reader.
Please visit the Vermont Accessibility Web Page if you need accessibility help with Excel files.

Wildlife Habitat Plan Template  (MS Excel Format) 
This Excel workbook is provided to document the steps of the planning process and provide a consistent format for creation of wildlife habitat plans when working with NRCS clients.  An example wildlife plan is included in the workbook.

The following document requires  Microsoft Word.
Please visit the Vermont Accessibility Web Page if you need accessibility help with Word files.

Wildlife Habitat Plan Template (MS Word Format) 
This MS Word template provides an optional format for creating wildlife habitat plans.  It provides increased space for writing long narratives, as compared with the Excel workbook version habitat plan.

The following document requires  Adobe Reader.

Components of a Conservation Plan  (1.3 MB)
Guidance regarding necessary components of a conservation plan.

Last Modified: June 12, 2009

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