Which agency helps in the conservation and preservation of natural resources?

We advise local, national and global decision-makers, providing data, science and counsel needed to protect and restore ecosystems at a large scale and integrate nature-based solutions into public policies.

We partner with the French Development Agency, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank in supporting the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — which has helped conserve more than 890 species and protect 48 million hectares (119 million acres) of ecosystems.

Protecting and restoring nature for climate, increasing global ocean protection, leading scalable models of sustainability — these massive efforts require collaborative action. We build essential coalitions of private and public partners to conserve biodiversity, tackle climate change and achieve sustainable development for the benefit of people and nature.

Earth’s natural resources include air, minerals, plants, soil, water, and wildlife. Conservation is the care and protection of these resources so that they can persist for future generations. It includes maintaining diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems, as well as functions of the environment, such as nutrient cycling.

Conservation is similar to preservation, but while both relate to the protection of nature, they strive to accomplish this task in different ways. Conservation seeks the sustainable use of nature by humans, for activities such as hunting, logging, or mining, while preservation means protecting nature from human use.

This difference is illustrated by how the United States manages its public lands. The goal of National Parks, for instance, is preservation with an emphasis on causing minimal change to the landscape or environment, meanwhile National Forests can be used for cattle grazing, lumber, hunting, and recreation.

Continued human population growth has led to unsustainable rates of consumption of our natural resources, resulting in a loss of Earth’s biodiversity. The main factors driving biodiversity loss include habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution.

Declining biodiversity is closely intertwined with species extinction. While extinction is a normal process of nature, the rate at which it is happening today is not. Scientists estimate that current extinction rates are about a thousand times higher now than would be expected based on the fossil record, and that we may be experiencing a mass extinction event, which is when 75 percent or more species are lost at a time.

The extinction of the passenger pigeon is a famous example of an extinction caused by human activity. It was once the most abundant land bird in North America, with a population of approximately three to five billion when Europeans arrived. Despite its vast numbers, this pigeon became extinct in the wild by the 1900s because of overhunting. The last individual bird, named Martha, died in captivity in 1941 at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Conservation practices and policies—ranging from the removal of invasive species, to setting aside protected land for wildlife and plants, to establishing the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)—have been put in place to combat these extinction pressures. Currently, more than 26,500 species are estimated to be at risk of extinction, though the exact number is difficult to calculate.

One of these species is a small porpoise called the vaquita. With fewer than thirty individuals remaining in the wild, the vaquita is the world’s most endangered marine mammal. They only live in the northern part of the Gulf of California and their biggest threat is an illegal fishery for the totoaba fish. The vaquita gets caught and tangled in the nets used to catch the totoaba, which are themselves endangered.

Despite conservation efforts, the vaquita will likely go extinct in the next few years with so few numbers and continued threats. Other animals, including the grizzly bear, bald eagle, and California condor, have recovered from near extinction thanks to conservation action under the ESA.

Conservation in agriculture is vital to maintain the productivity and sustainability of America’s working and non-working lands. USDA wants to help you improve and preserve your natural resources which can in turn positively impact the profitability of your operation. We have tools and programs available for you, and also offer free one-on-one support to help you address conservation concerns or plan for the future.

On this Page

About Conservation at USDA

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) supports vital conservation efforts across America’s working lands. NRCS helps American farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners make conservation work for them. They promote practices that help improve production, reduce input costs, and conserve natural resources for the future. 

NRCS and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) also provide financial resources to help producers fund conservation efforts. NRCS and FSA offer conservation programs for all types of agricultural operations and privately-owned forests and wetlands, whether you want to integrate conservation into your farm or ranch or conserve sensitive landscapes.
 

One-on-One Advice

Through one-on-one, personalized advice, USDA can work with you to find solutions for your unique conservation goals and business needs. Find your local USDA Service Center to start a conversation with a conservationist and learn more about available technical assistance.

Learn More about Advice

Co-Investing in Solutions

USDA is dedicated to making investments alongside you in your operation and community. Our goal is to keep working lands in production through conservation efforts that help you address existing resource concerns and prepare for challenges that may lie ahead.

Learn More about Solutions

Visit your local USDA Service Center to learn more about available programs and services for your working land. USDA provides cost-share financial assistance programs, technical assistance, soil survey information, wetland and highly erodible land determinations, and more to support America’s farmers and ranchers.

Providing Support Backed by Science and Research

Our conservation programs and practices are backed by science. USDA uses the latest technology and research to help you maximize the benefits of conservation efforts and improve the productivity of your working and non-working lands.

USDA also conducts research and shares data, findings, and standards with the public to enable you to make objective and reliable decisions about your operation. NRCS manages the largest collection of natural resources data archived in the world. Visit the NRCS data, maps, and analysis page to explore the technical resources that can be used for general farm, local, and area planning.

Conservation Concerns Tool

Learn about different types of conservation issues that might impact the productivity or natural resources on your farm, ranch, or forest by exploring the topics below.

You can also build a list of concerns to discuss with a local USDA conservation specialist.

Energy

Reduced energy efficiency for equipment of field operations

Soil

Soil erosion, soil quality degradation, or soil health

Water

Excess water, insufficient water, or water quality issues

Plants

Reduced health or quality of plants

Animals

Inability to meet livestock or wildlife habitat needs

Air

Air quality issues such as greenhouse gases or odors

Conservation Topics

Underlined HeaderNutrient Management

Underlined Paragraph Content

Efficiently managing nutrients maximizes yields and protects the environment. Learn More about Nutrient Management

Underlined HeaderClimate-Smart Ag & Forestry

Underlined Paragraph Content

Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners play a critical role in climate change mitigation and building resilience for the future.

Learn More about Climate-Smart Agriculture & Forestry

Underlined HeaderSoil Health

Underlined Paragraph Content

Managing for soil health allows producers to work with the land for productive, sustainable agriculture.

Learn More about Soil Health

Underlined HeaderWater Quality

Underlined Paragraph Content

Because so much of our land is devoted to agriculture, farmers have a vital role in protecting water quality.

Learn More about Water Quality

Underlined HeaderWater Quantity

Underlined Paragraph Content

Farmers play an important role in protecting America's supply of surface water and groundwater.

Learn More about Water Quantity

Underlined HeaderEasements & Reserves

Underlined Paragraph Content

Private landowners use easements and reserves to protect wetlands, grasslands, farms, and forests.

Learn More about Easements & Reserves

Underlined HeaderWildlife

Underlined Paragraph Content

America’s privately-owned farms, ranches, and forests are key to supporting wildlife across the country.

Learn More about Wildlife

Conservation at Work Video Series

Learn about the benefits of conservation practices directly from the farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners applying them with our new 90-second video series.

View Conservation at Work Videos

How to Get USDA Conservation Assistance

If you’d like to work with USDA to make improvements to land that you own or lease, getting started is easy. Follow the steps below to start the process.

Steps for USDA Conservation Assistance

1. Planning: Visit your local USDA Service Center to discuss your goals and work with staff on a conservation plan for your operation. Use our Service Center Locator to find your local office.
2. Application: With the help of USDA’s Farm Service Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service, complete an application for financial assistance programs.
3. Eligibility: As a part of applying, USDA Service Center staff will file paperwork to ensure you’re eligible for assistance.
4. Ranking: USDA generally ranks applications according to local resource concerns.
5. Implementing: Put conservation to work by signing a contract and implementing conservation practices.

Learn more about how to get started with USDA, including documents you should consider bringing for your first Service Center visit.

Additional Resources

Resources

• Conservation Planning with the Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Conservation Programs Brochure (also available in other languages)
• FPAC Brochure (also available in other languages)

News

• CRP-TIP creates opportunities to ensure expiring CRP contracts are used to support the next generation of producers by incentivizing transfer of land access and ownership. Learn more about these FSA programs from this

Find Your Local Service Center

We are committed to delivering USDA services to America’s farmers and ranchers while taking safety measures in response to the pandemic. Many USDA Service Centers are open for visitors, but some may remain open by appointment only. Contact your local Service Center to determine their open status or make an appointment. Service Center staff continues to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. Learn more at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.

Visit the Risk Management Agency website to find a regional or compliance office or to find an near you.

State

County

Related Resources

Nine Step Conservation Planning Process

NRCS uses a nine-step planning process whenever it begins a conservation planning project. Explore those nine steps to learn more about the planning process.

Soils Data, Maps and Tools

Explore a wealth of free soil, plant, and climate data and tools that can be used to help make informed decisions about agricultural practices, production, and the environment.

Which of the agencies is concerned with the preservation and conservation of natural resources?

What are the agencies responsible for conservation of natural resources?

Is DENR a government agency?

What is natural resource preservation?