AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides long-term conservation easements to protect and restore wetlands and agricultural lands. The program is funded through the 2018 Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, with a focus on absorbing greenhouse gases and building climate resilience. It operates through two primary mechanisms: agricultural land easements, which protect working farms and ranches via cost-sharing with eligible entities, and wetland reserve easements, which provide direct assistance to landowners for wetland restoration and protection.

• The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) was created by the 2014 Farm Bill to provide long-term conservation easements that protect and restore wetlands and agricultural lands, which are identified as essential for "absorbing and storing greenhouse gases and building resilience to climate change impacts."
• Funding for ACEP is derived from two primary sources: the 2018 Farm Bill, which authorized mandatory annual funding of $450 million through fiscal year 2023, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized $1.4 billion distributed between FY 2023 ($100 million), FY 2024 ($200 million), FY 2025 ($500 million), and FY 2026 ($600 million).
• Agricultural land easements are implemented through cost-share assistance to eligible entities, where the Federal share generally does not exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of the easement. However, for "grassland of special environmental significance," the Federal share may increase up to 75 percent.
• Wetland reserve easements are available as 30-year easements, permanent easements, or easements for the maximum duration allowed by State law; Indian tribes also have the option of 30-year contracts.
• For permanent wetland reserve easements, the Secretary provides compensation based on the lowest of the fair market value, a geographical cap, or the landowner's offer. For 30-year contracts or easements, compensation is between 50 and 75 percent of the permanent easement value.
• The program prohibits the acquisition of easements on lands owned by U.S. agencies (except those held in trust for Indian tribes), lands owned in fee title by a State or local government, or lands where the program's purpose would be undermined by conditions such as "risk of hazardous substances" or "infrastructure development."

APA

Bertrand, S. (2023). AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf

Chicago

Bertrand, Savannah. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bertrand |first1=Savannah |title=AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bertrand2023agricultural, author = {Bertrand, Savannah}, title = {{AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP) Program Description}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Agricultural-Conservation-Easement-Program-ACEP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }