Note that the data published in the 2002 State of the Nation’s Ecosystems Report as well as the 2003 and 2005 Web-Only Updates have been superseded by the 2008 Report and thus should be used with caution. For the most recent data, purchase the 2008 Report from Island Press.

The Data

Data Source: Data on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands are from the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which manages CRP signups and contracts. The data for CRP acreage reported here were provided by FSA and are based on data reported at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crpstorpt/04approved/r1pracyr/r1pracyr2.htm

Data Manipulation: Reported here are lands in the following “practice” categories: Introduced Grasses (CP1), Native Grasses (CP2), Wildlife Habitat (CP4), Grass Waterways (CP8), Established Grass (CP10), Wildlife Food Plots (CP12), Vegetative Filter Strips (CP13), Contour Grass (CP15), Snow Fences (CP17), Salt Tolerant Vegetation (CP18), Alternative Perennials (CP20), Filter Strips (CP21), Cross Wind Strips (CP24), and Declining Habitat (CP25). Data from each of these practice categories were summed for all contracts active (that had not expired) at the time the report was prepared.

FSA provides information on cover practices for CRP contracts beginning in each program year since the CRP was established (1987). FSA does not verify the implementation of each contract, but rather assumes that the cover practices identified in the contract at the time of signup are implemented for the entire time that contract is in effect (i.e., ten years, unless extended). The data provided by the FSA sum the acreage enrolled in each of the 14 cover practices specified above, for all contracts initiated in a given year, and those initiated in previous years that have not expired.

The Data Gap

For this indicator to be reported on effectively at a national level, a standardized set of definitions and criteria for classifying land uses is needed. Following are possible components and approaches to be incorporated into such definitions.

Livestock Raising: Federal land managers report the allowable stocking rate in Animal Unit Months (AUMs) for individual livestock allotments. In theory, the number of animal units per acre could be calculated. However, research should be done to understand how well allowable stocking rates reflect actual rates of use. In addition, we are aware of no source for consolidated information on acreage used for livestock raising on private lands.

Intensive Recreation: This category is intended to describe areas whose major purpose is recreational use, and where such use is significant enough to generate changes in the condition of the area. To adequately report on such areas, a definition needs to be devised based on factors such as levels of recreation use or number and type of recreational facilities in an area.

Energy and Mineral Development: As with recreation, adequate reporting on areas used for energy and mineral development requires a definition that accounts for the areas directly affected (e.g., drilling pad area, mine pits, tailings ponds) as well as nearby areas with visual, noise, dust, and other impacts.

Rural Residences: As with other categories, adequate reporting of this indicator component would require adoption of thresholds that identify a class of lands with low-density rural residence development. These areas are less dense than what most people would consider “suburban” but would have to be distinguished in some manner from truly rural, very low density development. The target for this component is often described as “ranchette” development.

“Protected Areas”: Identifying protected areas will require adoption of a standard that distinguishes certain public or private lands based on their legal status or management practice; lands that are managed primarily in order to maintain biodiversity and natural processes should be included. Several categorization approaches have been developed including the World Conservation Union’s six-category approach (see http://www.redlist.org/info/categories_criteria.html) and the Gap Analysis Program’s management status four-category scheme (http://www.gap.uidaho.edu/). A dataset being developed for this purpose will report the acreage of lands according to a system of categorizing management intensity developed by the U.S. Geological Survey Gap Analysis Program (see http://www.gap.uidaho.edu/handbook/Stewardship/default.htm). This database is currently under development by the Conservation Biology Institute in conjunction with the USDA Forest Service; see http://www.consbio.org/cbi/what/pad.htm.

In addition to developing definitions for these categories, mechanisms should be developed for the accounting of the acreage in each category and changes in these areas over time.

2003 Web Site Update: Data on the number of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2002 were obtained directly from the Farm Service Administration.

2005 Web Site Update: Data on the number of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2003-2004 were obtained directly from the Farm Service Administration.