Helpful Acronyms/Programs

Acronym Central

As Conservation District employees, we deal with acronyms every day! Here's a handy alphabetized list with ones that we commonly see. They have definitions and links to further information.

Icons:

Building = Agency
People = Groups
Leaf = Agriculture Organizations
Clipboard/Check = Program
Book = Definition

See anything we need to add? Email your submission.

ACEP

BMP

CRP

CSP

The Conservation Stewardship Program - helps build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening farm operation.

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.

District Conservationist
NRCS lead in a county. The District Conservationist’s job is to manage the office and its staff, making sure everything is taken care of and work runs smoothly. They deal with the rules and regulations for the USDA and work with farmers to ensure requirements and protocols are being met. This may include making sure that permits or contracts have been obtained for various building projects on farms.

DHEC

DNR

EEASC

Environmental Education Association of South Carolina - environmental educators, both formal and non-formal, and people, organizations, and businesses who support environmental education in South Carolina.

Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) is a non-profit association with a leadership role in environmental and natural resource conservation education in South Carolina.

EPA

EQIP

FSA

Farm Services Agency - Federal agency that works with farmers and registers them for NRCS services. FSA's responsibilities are organized into five areas: Farm Programs, Farm Loans, Commodity Operations, Management and State Operations. The agency continues to provide America's farmers with a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity programs. FSA also implements ad hoc disaster programs.

GPS

MOU / MOA

Similar to a contract, a Memorandum of Understanding is an agreement between two or more parties. Unlike a contract, however, an MOU need not contain legally enforceable promises. MOUs tend to be used for simple common-cause agreements which are not legally binding. A Memorandum of Agreement, on the other hand, establishes common legal terms that establish a “conditional agreement” where the transfer of funds for services are anticipated.

NACD

National Association of Conservation Districts - provides a unified, national voice for the more than 3,000 conservation districts across the United States. NACD’s member-driven board of directors selects conservation policy priorities which are used to develop and review environmental and natural resources legislation and to secure adequate federal funding for natural resources conservation programs.

NCDAE

The National Conservation District Employees Association was conceived in February 1984 and established in February 1992 by district employees with a passion for the local conservation delivery system. They recognized that district employees across the nation, at the direction of their local boards, are primarily responsible for the grassroots local delivery of conservation.

NCDEA builds bridges to assist 7000+ district professionals in implementing conservation programs in their local communities.

NRCS

Natural Resources Conservation Service - The USDA's, NRCS is a agency under the Department's Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) division and focuses on the conservation of natural resources to ensure availability to future generations. As a non-regulatory agency, we work together with farm and forest landowners to identify conservation concerns on their operations and provide solutions through voluntary conservation programs.

Administers the following programs in South Carolina:

ASEP - Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
EQIP - Environmental Quality Incentives Program
CSP - Conservation Stewardship Program
RCPP - Regional Conservation Partnership Program

RCPP

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This program is for organizations.

RCPP projects fall under two different categories: RCPP Classic and RCPP Grants. RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP Grants, the lead partner must work directly with agricultural producers to support the development of new conservation structures and approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.

SCACD

SCCDEA

South Carolina Conservation Districts Employee Association - a private, grass-roots organization made up of the employees of the 46 Conservation Districts in South Carolina. The governing body of the State Association is the Board of Directors made up of the President, immediate past President, Secretary, Treasurer and one Director from each of the 4 Soil and Water Conservation Commission Areas of the state. The mission: To strengthen conservation District programs in South Carolina. To improve communication and strengthen District staffs throughout the state. To promote professional development of Conservation District employees. To be the liaison between the state employees and the state, regional, and National Associations of Conservation Districts

SECDEA

SCDHEC

SCDNR

SWCD

USDA