Land Conservation Partnership Grant: Conservation Easement Assistance Program

From Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)

The mission of the funder (likely MDC, although not explicitly stated) is not detailed within the provided text, so it's undefined in this context.

Type of Support

Overview

The grant program, comprising the Land Conservation Partnership Grant and the Conservation Easement Assistance Program, focuses on providing financial assistance to support land conservation efforts. It aims to help communities and local governments acquire land or easements for the purpose of preserving land with high conservation value. This includes projects that protect habitat for wildlife, improve water quality, provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and offer other ecosystem services. The program offers competitive, matching grants and financial assistance to cover costs related to the establishment of donated conservation easements, with a maximum award of $200,000 per project proposal. However, it does not currently compensate landowners for the value of the easement itself, although this aspect is under review.

Eligibility

Organization's Location

USA

Program Location

Organization Type

Local governments

Nonprofit land trusts registered and in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State

Other

Mission includes protecting lands for conservation purposes
Lands must be in Missouri
At least 75% existing natural cover or planned natural cover with restoration initiated within 2 years
Acres grazed by livestock not considered natural cover unless in compliance with an MDC approved wildlife habitat management plan
Easements entered willingly by landowner without use of eminent domain
No minimum or maximum acreage requirement; selection based on economies of scale and budget
Focus on conservation of fish, forest, and/or wildlife
Habitat improvement practices must follow best management practices
Up to 25% of acres can be non-natural community types if pre-authorized
Livestock must be excluded from forests and riparian areas unless approved by an MDC wildlife habitat management plan
Provisions for building and subdivisions considered on a case-by-case basis

Ineligibility

Applicants who prohibit herbicide use, harvest timber, hunt, fish, or trap on the easement

Landowners who plant nuisance exotic, invasive plants as classified by the Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force

Applicants who convert existing or planned natural cover to non-natural community cover types without easement approval

Applicants who change, manipulate, or alter natural water courses without approval

Those engaged in mining or mineral extraction on the easement

Applicants using other MDC funds for easement purchase

Applicants with easements having pre-approved building envelopes, where MDC won't cover special charges or stewardship fees for those areas

Applicants with easements that include pre-approved future tract subdividing, where MDC won't cover associated special charges

Applicants expecting coverage of appraisal costs by the grant program.

up to 200k

Application deadline

Rolling

Submission

Review Criteria

Projects featuring public accessibility will gain extra points in the project evaluation, though offering public access is not mandatory for participation.