Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

To apply for the Spring BirdReturns-Delta and South of Delta Wetlands Program, submit a bid consisting of the desired dollar amount per acre to create the habitat as described in the program details below.

Xerónimo Castañeda

Julia Barfield

Private wetlands compose sixty-five percent of remnant wetland habitat in the Central Valley, making them important habitat strongholds. By supporting&#x2004;wetland owners to flood-up dry wetlands in the winter and spring, private wetlands can help to meet habitat needs for all waterbird species. This is especially important during extended drought when there is far less flooded habitat across the Central Valley.

### **Delta and South of Delta Wetlands Spring 2023**

The objective of the Spring BirdReturns-Delta and South of Delta Wetland Program is to provide monetary support to private landowners to enable the flood up of managed seasonal wetlands by April 1 to a depth of 8-12” followed by a staged drawdown over a four-to-six-week period. Landowners can apply to enroll multiple wetland units/properties by submitting a bid for each wetland unit.

Wetlands located throughout the Delta and San Joaquin Valley are eligible for the spring program. Wetland managers are asked to meet specific conditions in their fields to provide high-quality habitat for waterbirds, specifically shallower water depths, low vegetation and crop residue, and minimal tillage.



Private wetlands compose sixty-five percent of remnant wetland habitat in the Central Valley, making them important habitat strongholds. By supporting wetland owners to flood-up dry wetlands in the winter and spring, private wetlands can help to meet habitat needs for all waterbird species. This is especially important during extended drought when there is far less flooded habitat across the Central Valley.
Delta and South of Delta Wetlands Spring 2023
The objective of the Spring BirdReturns-Delta and South of Delta Wetland Program is to provide monetary support to private landowners to enable the flood up of managed seasonal wetlands by April 1 to a depth of 8-12” followed by a staged drawdown over a four-to-six-week period. Landowners can apply to enroll multiple wetland units/properties by submitting a bid for each wetland unit.
Wetlands located throughout the Delta and San Joaquin Valley are eligible for the spring program. Wetland managers are asked to meet specific conditions in their fields to provide high-quality habitat for waterbirds, specifically shallower water depths, low vegetation and crop residue, and minimal tillage.

Who is eligible:
- All Delta and south of Delta wetlands >25 acres
- Wetland owners with access to ground and/or surface water
- For more detail on eligibility see Ineligible details below
Ineligible Due to Program Overlap and Geographic Restrictions:
- Wetlands enrolled in the Presley Program or that are currently receiving annual funding to manage spring wetlands i.e. NRCS EQIP
- Within 5 miles of major airports, including Sacramento, Travis Air Force Base, Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, and Lemoore Naval Air Station
- Groundwater pumping in areas that may negatively impact municipal wells
- Wetland Units less than 25 acres in size

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Disaster Relief

Water Management

Conservation

Emergency

Requirements
- Enrolled wetland units will be fully flooded (minimum depth of 8 to 12 inches at outflow, dependent on geography) with no exposed mudflat on April 1, 2023 and then carry out a staged drawdown over four weeks.
    - By April 15, 25-50% of the enrolled wetland unit(s) is mudflats
    - By April 30, 75% of the enrolled wetland unit(s) is mudflats
    - Allow access to wetland units for compliance and biological monitoring during the drawdown period
Bid Ranking and Scoring Process
All bids will be ranked and scored by representatives from the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, Ducks Unlimited, and the California Waterfowl Association. This committee will assess bids according to standardized methods, using the best available science and tools that predict the habitat value of each bid according to its location in the landscape, history of bird use in the surrounding area, and timing. Those bids that are able to flood longer, have larger acreages, and have competitive bids will rank higher.

Fill out the application here. Each region has 2-3 enrollment cycles a year. Producers typically get a response on their application within 3-4 months after submitting their application.

There is not winter application cycle for the Southeast region this cycle. Check back again for additional application opportunities.

Expanding Agroforestry

This project will build climate-smart markets and increase capital investments in tree planting that will increase the supply of agroforestry commodities utilizing a network of leaders in forestry. This will work directly with manufacturers and retailers to connect potential buyers with producers (including underserved producers).


Project plans to provide 95 percent cost-share to participating underserved producers implanting climate-smart practices. Partners also aim to work with trade organization to develop certification standards for an “agroforestry-producers” label which&#x2004;will bring a price premium to producers.


The project plans to utilize the USDA’s COMET-Planner tool to estimate GHG reductions for the proposed agroforestry project. All data collected during the project are planned to be stored in Propagate’s Overyield platform, providing producers and TSPs access to all data required for GHG benefit verification.  Verra’s Afforestation/Reforestation of Agricultural Lands methodology will also used for verification of GHG benefits for producers seeking to sell carbon credits on the voluntary market.


The project aims to help negotiate contracts with commercial buyers for the harvested produce or timber and profit-sharing agreements with investors and producers and plans to work with trade organizations to develop certification standards for an “agroforestry-produced” label, for which consumers and manufacturers will be willing to pay a price premium. The project’s qualification process plans to prioritize underserved and small producers and provide 95% cost-share for implementation for underserved producers.



This project will build climate-smart markets and increase capital investments in tree planting that will increase the supply of agroforestry commodities utilizing a network of leaders in forestry. This will work directly with manufacturers and retailers to connect potential buyers with producers (including underserved producers).

Project plans to provide 95 percent cost-share to participating underserved producers implanting climate-smart practices. Partners also aim to work with trade organization to develop certification standards for an “agroforestry-producers” label which will bring a price premium to producers.

The project plans to utilize the USDA’s COMET-Planner tool to estimate GHG reductions for the proposed agroforestry project. All data collected during the project are planned to be stored in Propagate’s Overyield platform, providing producers and TSPs access to all data required for GHG benefit verification.  Verra’s Afforestation/Reforestation of Agricultural Lands methodology will also used for verification of GHG benefits for producers seeking to sell carbon credits on the voluntary market.

The project aims to help negotiate contracts with commercial buyers for the harvested produce or timber and profit-sharing agreements with investors and producers and plans to work with trade organizations to develop certification standards for an “agroforestry-produced” label, for which consumers and manufacturers will be willing to pay a price premium. The project’s qualification process plans to prioritize underserved and small producers and provide 95% cost-share for implementation for underserved producers.

To be in this program, you must be willing to do required paperwork for USDA and to enter into an agreement with The Nature Conservancy. We have program staff who will help you navigate the required forms below.

1. FSA number (and assigned Farm, Tract, & Field IDs)
2. Approved CPA-52
3. Form AD-2047
4. Form CCC-902
5. Form AD-1026
6. Certification that applicant is not a foreign person or entity
7. Subsidiary print form
8. Farmers.gov registration
9. Incentive Payment Producer Survey
10. Certificate of Insurance Form
11. Conflict of Interest form (with The Nature Conservancy)
12. W-9
13. ACH Form (required only if opting for preferred electronic payment processing)
Producers must also:
- Be in an eligible state
- Follow NRCS Practice Standards for Alley Cropping, Silvopasture, and/or Windbreaks
- Need to own the land or be in control of the acreage via lease through 2028
- have at least 5 acres to enroll

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Nuts

Berries

Beef

Fruit Trees

Forest Products

Specialty Crops

Aloe Leaves

Blackberries

Fruits

Honey

Horticulture

Mamey Sapote

Maple Syrup

Mustard Greens

Parsnips

Passion Fruit

Pineapples

Plantains

Pummelos

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Tree Nuts

Vegetables

Abiu

Achachairu

Antidesma

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Barbados Cherry

Blueberries

Breadfruit

Cacao

Caimito

Calabaza Melon

Canary Melon

Canary Seed

Caneberries

Canistel

Cantaloupes

Casaba Melon

Cherries

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chokeberry

Citron

Citron Melon

Coconuts

Cranberries

Crenshaw Melon

Custard Apple

Dates

Dragon Fruit

Durian

Elderberries

Figs

Genip

Goji

Gooseberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Guavaberry

Honeyberries

Honeydew

Huckleberries

Israel Melons

Jack Fruit

Jujube

Juneberries

Kiwiberry

Kiwifruit

Korean Golden Melon

Kumquats

Langsat

Lemons

Limequats

Limes

Longan

Loquats

Lychee

Mangos

Mangosteen

Mayhaw Berries

Mesple

Mulberries

Nectarines

Oranges

Papaya

Passion Fruits

Pawpaw

Peaches

Pears

Pineapple

Plantain

Plumcots

Plums

Pomegranates

Prunes

Pummelo

Raisins

Rambutan

Sapodilla

Sapote

Schizandra Berries

Soursop

Sprite Melon

Star Fruit

Star Gooseberry

Strawberries

Sugar Apple

Tangelos

Tangerines

Tangors

Wampee

Watermelon

Wax Jamboo Fruit

Winter Melon

Apiary

Anise

Basil

Cassava

Chia

Cinnamon

Ground Cherry

Wine

Cilantro

Boston Lettuce

Green Leaf Lettuce

Iceberg Lettuce

Lolla Rossa Lettuce

Oak Leaf Lettuce

Red Leaf Lettuce

Romaine Lettuce

Dry Onions

Green Onions

Bell Peppers

Potato Seeds

Processing Potatoes

Russet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Zucchini

Turnip Top

Nursery Trees

Nursery Crops

- Expanding Agroforestry FAQ
- Payment Program Timeline

The EAP Incentive Payment Program is piloting two different structures of incentive payments. 
Category 1: 
- Per-Tree Installation Costs Incentive: Enrolled producers receive a Per-Tree Installation Costs Incentive Payment (average $30/tree). 
- Transition Incentive: PLUS, a Per-Acre Transition Incentive of $450/acre paid out in three installments.

Category 2
- Installation Costs: Are paid by third-party financing or other funding source options.
- Transition Incentive: Enrolled producers for Category 2 receive the Per-Acre Transition Incentive of $450/acre paid out in three installments. 

Producers must follow NRCS Conservation Practice Standards for installing alley cropping, silvopasture, and windbreaks. The incentive payments may be used to cover the best management practices recommended to ensure survivorship for the newly planted trees and shrubs.

The proposed project plans to work with forest owners to grow a set of climate-adapted tree species resilient to the projected climate futures of Minnesota’s Midwest Broadleaf Forest, and monitor and market the climate-smart commodity. Producers would receive a payment for each tree seedling grown, in addition to assistance with start-up costs, provision of wild-collected tree&#x2004;seed, and cooperatively managed shipping and distribution of seedings.


Seedlings produced as part of this pilot would bear a “Climate-Smart” label and would include native trees selected based on their projected climate capability. The project would provide free training opportunities about tree seed collection and seedling production market opportunities, paying a fair, hourly wage for participating tree seed collectors and provide start-up funds for interested producers, but for whom cost would be a barrier to enter the market.



The proposed project plans to work with forest owners to grow a set of climate-adapted tree species resilient to the projected climate futures of Minnesota’s Midwest Broadleaf Forest, and monitor and market the climate-smart commodity. Producers would receive a payment for each tree seedling grown, in addition to assistance with start-up costs, provision of wild-collected tree seed, and cooperatively managed shipping and distribution of seedings.

Seedlings produced as part of this pilot would bear a “Climate-Smart” label and would include native trees selected based on their projected climate capability. The project would provide free training opportunities about tree seed collection and seedling production market opportunities, paying a fair, hourly wage for participating tree seed collectors and provide start-up funds for interested producers, but for whom cost would be a barrier to enter the market.

Tree Seedlings

Two ways to apply:
1. Let Birdreturns know your field location and availability, crop types, and timing by phone or email, or 
2. Fill out the 1-page application and attach a map and 10-year crop history.


Mary Fahey

Working in partnership with the Colusa Groundwater Authority, The Nature Conservancy is conducting an on-farm, multi-benefit program, which provides an opportunity for growers to receive financial compensation for recharging groundwater in&#x2004;the course of normal farming operations on a variety of crops while also providing critical “pop-up” wetland habitat in early fall when water is scarce on the landscape and shorebirds migrating along the Pacific Flyway often have nowhere to stop over on long migrations.

This on-farm recharge program requires short-term commitments from growers to irrigate and maintain shallow depths of 4” or less on enrolled fields. The program pays for field preparation, irrigation and water costs.	



Working in partnership with the Colusa Groundwater Authority, The Nature Conservancy is conducting an on-farm, multi-benefit program, which provides an opportunity for growers to receive financial compensation for recharging groundwater in the course of normal farming operations on a variety of crops while also providing critical “pop-up” wetland habitat in early fall when water is scarce on the landscape and shorebirds migrating along the Pacific Flyway often have nowhere to stop over on long migrations.
This on-farm recharge program requires short-term commitments from growers to irrigate and maintain shallow depths of 4” or less on enrolled fields. The program pays for field preparation, irrigation and water costs.	

Land must be in the area approved for this project, encompassed by this map.
Required Water Management
In addition to the straw management requirements, BirdReturns requires participants to maintain shallow-flooded conditions – saturated soil on the entire enrolled acreage and no more than 4″ depth.
Growers may use surface water or groundwater (or a combination of both) to maintain water on their enrolled field.
Required Field Conditions
BirdReturns requires participants to achieve certain field conditions, mainly by performing post-harvest mechanical treatment(s) which disrupt the soil and encourage straw-soil mixing and straw decomposition so that the field is free of standing vegetation or matted straw. For rice fields which do not already provide suitable migratory bird habitat with their typical practices, some modifications or additional treatments may be required to create suitable habitat. Thus, proper straw management is a critical component of this program’s success and TNC’s ability to continue this incentive. 
Rather than prescribe a specific practice, TNC is attempting to maintain flexibility by describing the desired field conditions and allowing growers to implement any one of the following practice combinations after harvest:
Chop + Disc + Roll
Chop + Disc 2x

Example Pictures at the bottom of this page.

Timeline
The set up and implementation dates are somewhat flexible. Water spreading will take place between Aug. 15 -Oct. 15, with set up taking place earlier. Timing will vary depending on water availability and crop schedule. Let TNC know what will make these practices workable with your crop production schedules!
July 1-August 15
Application: (1) Let TNC know your field location and availability, crop types, and timing by phone or email, (2) Fill out the 1-page application and attach a map and 10-year crop history.
July-September
Selection: TNC selects fields based on soil and crop type and timing.
Field Verification: TNC verifies suitable conditions.
Contracting: Selected participants sign contracts with TNC.
Field Set Up: (1) Engineers will survey the field and install pressure transducers or flow meters at inlets and outlets and in adjacent wells to measure water and groundwater depths. (2) Field prep to remove or incorporate vegetation may be recommended. (3) Soil and water samples collected to monitor impacts on water quality. (4) Installation of wooden stakes to monitor water depths and bird presence.
August-Mid-October
Implementation: (1) Participants spread water on fields for 4-6 weeks, maintain shallow depth (4” maximum), and record changes in water flow on an irrigation log. (2) TNC records field depth and bird presence. (3) Consulting engineers monitor water delivery and changes in groundwater depth.
October-December
Payment: Contract fees paid after completion of program requirements.

Fill out the application here. Each region has 2-3 enrollment cycles a year. Producers typically get a response on their application within 3-4 months after submitting their application.

List of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Funding Opportunities