How will the presence of threatened and endangered species affect the future use of lands enrolled in HFRP?
During the contract or easement period, landowners will be required to manage the lands enrolled in HFRP according to a plan that will maximize habitat for threatened and endangered species. However, at the end of the contract or easement period, NRCS can work with participants to develop an agreement with the USFWS that will protect their lands from new restrictions where management has resulted in increased habitat or populations of threatened and endangered species. The protections are based on establishing a baseline population or habitat value at the time the land is enrolled in HFRP. The only requirement is that the participant does not take any action that would reduce the population or habitat below the baseline condition. In some cases, the baseline condition may be zero, and there would be no future restrictions on lands coming out of the program.
