Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is a government initiative that helps preserve farmland, grasslands, and wetlands by providing financial incentives to landowners. In exchange for a conservation easement—an agreement that limits future development—the landowner maintains their property for agriculture or habitat preservation. This program aims to protect natural resources, support sustainable farming, and prevent land from being converted to non-agricultural uses. It ensures that valuable open spaces and ecosystems are conserved for future generations while allowing landowners to retain ownership and some agricultural use within agreed-upon boundaries.