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.

Conservation Planning Questionnaire - Vermont NRCS 
This document requires Adobe Acrobat.  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.

CPA-52 & Resource Inventory Assessment Workbook - Vermont NRCS (Excel template 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.

CPA-52 Environmental Evaluation Worksheet - CRP / CReP (Excel template 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.

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  Adobe Acrobat

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

Last Modified: December 12, 2007

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