Resource Conservation & Development Fact Sheet

Legislative Authority

The Resource Conservation and Development program was authorized by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962, P.L. 87-703.  The program was re-authorized with the passage of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the RC&D program.

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Resource Conservation and Development program is to encourage and improve the capability of designated RC&D areas to plan, develop and carry out projects for resource conservation and development.

Resource Conservation and Development projects relate to:

Program Operations

The Resource Conservation and Development program helps people care for and protect their natural resources, and improve local economies and living standards. The program is successful because we pull together people, communities, various units of government, and grassroots organizations — uniting in shared purpose and pooling resources and skills to get work done. RC&D projects and activities are determined by the area’s problems and needs.

More than 20,000 volunteers are serving on and with RC&D councils. They are committed to revitalizing and sustaining their communities through the RC&D program. On average, RC&D volunteers donate 78,000 days per year. To date, 375 areas across the Nation have been designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as RC&D areas, serving 86% of U.S. counties. As additional organized areas await official designation, efforts to protect our natural resources continue.

Program Funding

RC&D program appropriations for FY-2000 are $35.265 million. FY-1999 appropriations were $35 million.