New Jersey Audubon, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, NJ Conservation Foundation, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service came together in August to share the word of their partnering efforts in protecting, enhancing, and preserving essential Bog Turtle Habitat with farmers in Salem County, New Jersey. These organizations are carrying out this work in Salem County through involvement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
Bog Turtles rely on open, emergent freshwater wetlands habitat that is often closely associated with agricultural livestock operations. When livestock graze land, they are maintaining the early successional habitat Bog Turtles rely on by keeping woody vegetation out. Through enrollment in RCPP, farmers receive technical and financial assistance towards their efforts to protect this essential, declining habitat type.
Those interested in applying for RCPP, and any other USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, should contact their local USDA service center to apply by Friday, October 20th, 2023. Service centers can be located using the following link: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
