The following are federal assistance programs that provide cost share incentives for habitat conservation, habitat restoration, forestland, ranchland, and farm conservation.

Agricultural Management Assistance
Conservation Innovation Grants
Conservation of Private Grazing Land
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Conservation Reserve Program
Conservation Security Program
Environmental Quality Incentives Program Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Utah Vermont Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
Forest Resource Development Program
Grassland Reserve Program
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)
Wetlands Reserve Program
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
Woods Wise Incentives to Stewardship Enhancement

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Useful information on Backyard Conservation is available from the NRCS at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/. In addition, NRCS administers a variety of conservation programs available for farmers under the 2002 Farm Bill.

National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation operates a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program. Private landowners can certify their property as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat site. More information, including how to purchase a starter kit and a planning guide, is available. NWF also runs a Habitat Stewards training program. Follow link for more on how to become a habitat steward

Lakes Associations

Nonprofit organizations known as Lakes Associations have sprung up over the years to protect many of the larger lakes. These associations offer a variety of educational and stewardship programs.