Complete a series of coursework and technical training
Present Day: The Conservation Plan
Locally led conservation becomes real on the ground through one central practice: conservation planning. The concept of conservation planning dates back to the 1930s, when Hugh Hammond Bennett developed the first conservation plans to help farmers recover from the Dust Bowl.
A conservation plan is a voluntary, written record of how landowners plan to manage natural resources while meeting their operational goals. Part guide, part commitment, the plan is developed collaboratively alongside trained professionals called conservation planners. Conservation plans combine science, local knowledge, technical expertise, practical experience and the landowner’s vision for the future.
The Purpose of a Plan
A conservation plan provides a roadmap to keep land healthy and productive for generations. The plan is a living document, designed to grow and adapt with new technologies and environmental changes. Together, the landowner and conservation planner walk the property to identify resource concerns and set tailored goals, such as reducing soil erosion, increasing wildlife habitat, restoring soil health, or improving water quality. The resulting plan serves as the foundation for sustainable land management.
What’s in a Conservation Plan
While each conservation plan is customized, most include the same key elements.
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Resource Inventory: Information such as soil conditions, water sources, and land uses.
Areas of Concern: Identified issues such as erosion, invasive species, or nutrient runoff.
Conservation Practice Recommendations: Systems or techniques to address concerns, such as cover cropping.
Implementation Schedule: A realistic timeline for applying recommended practices.
Maps and Supporting Data: Collected materials such as aerial photos, soil surveys, and water quality test results.
How a Plan is Created
Developing a conservation plan follows a structured nine-step process used nationwide by NRCS and conservation partners. This process ensures each plan is thorough, science-based, and tailored to the landowner’s needs.
The nine steps are:
Identify objectives
Inventory resources
Analyze data
Develop alternatives
Evaluate alternatives
Make decisions
Implement the plan
Evaluate outcomes
Revise as needed
Who Creates the Plan
Plans are developed by trained conservation planners in collaboration with the landowner/operator. The plans are reviewed and approved by certified conservation planners. Certified conservation planners may work for NRCS, conservation districts, state agencies, Tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, or as Technical Service Providers (TSPs). Regardless of their employer, all certified planners follow NRCS planning standards.
To become certified, planners must:
Participate in hands-on field training and mentoring
Prepare sample conservation plans for formal evaluation
Demonstrate proficiency with planning tools such as CD and CART
Show strong communication and collaboration skills with landowners/operators
Maintain certification through ongoing education and periodic review
“...Land must be expertly cared for if it is to be maintained in a productive state.”
– Hugh Hammond Bennett
“...Land must be expertly cared for if it is to be maintained in a productive state.”
– Hugh Hammond Bennett