1. Longleaf Pine Initiative Mary Webb-Marek Zone Forester USDA-NRCS Bryan, Texas www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov mary.webbmarek@tx.usda.gov Rick Williams State Forester USDA-NRCS Temple, Texas www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov richard.williams@tx.usda.gov

2. Longleaf Pine Initiative • Longleaf pine forests once encompassed more than 90 million acres of the North American landscape. Today, only three percent, or 3.4 million acres, remain and, yet, Longleaf pine forests represent some of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems. The Longleaf pine ecosystem provides critical habitat for 29 threatened and endangered species. • The Longleaf Pine Initiative began when an interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among USDA, the Department of Interior and the Department of Defense identified the longleaf pine ecosystem as a priority resource concern.

3. Longleaf Pine Initiative • As part of the initiative, NRCS and its conservation partners in nine states are helping private landowners improve the sustainability and profitability of Longleaf pine forest ecosystems. • NRCS Farm Bill conservation programs provide landowners technical and financial assistance. States involved in the initiative include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

4. LLPI and EQIP • In Fiscal Year 2013, the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI) is included under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) • EQIP addresses resource concerns via a Conservation Plan or a Forest Management Plan on Non-Industrial Private Forestland (NIPF) • Apply for EQIP/LLPI by completing the application, Form NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application, and submitting it to the field office in the county in which you own land

5. LLPI and EQIP • EQIP sign-up is continuous, but the availability of funding will determine the cut-off dates of application ranking periods • In order to be eligible for EQIP, the applicant and the land must be determined eligible by NRCS • NRCS will rank the application using criteria developed for the Longleaf Pine Initiative funding pool

6. LLPI and EQIP • If the application is selected for financial assistance, the applicant will work with the NRCS to make an appointment and finalize the conservation/forest management plan and schedule of operations prior to signing the contract for fund obligation • Both NRCS and the participant must sign the contract prior to implementation of any planned conservation practices. Any practice scheduled for financial assistance commenced prior to fund obligation is ineligible for payment • A Forest Management Plan is required prior to payment on EQIP contracts addressing Non-Industrial Private Forestland

7. Common Forestry Conservation Practices under the Longleaf Pine Initiative • 490- Forest Site Preparation • 612- Tree/Shrub Establishment • 666- Forest Stand Improvement • 394- Firebreak • 338- Prescribed Burning

8. Texas Partners in Longleaf Conservation • Texas A&M Forest Service • National Wild Turkey Federation • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) • Texas/Louisiana Longleaf Pine Taskforce • The Longleaf Alliance

9. Natural Resources Conservation Service Helping People Help the Land "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 , or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."