Excerpts: The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the Federal Government's single largest environmental improvement program—and one of its most effective. Today, the CRP is safeguarding millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion, increasing wildlife habitat, and protecting ground and surface water by reducing water runoff and sedimentation. Countless lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams are cleaner and more vital in part because of the CRP. Even more impressive, CRP's success is accomplished through voluntary partnerships between individuals and Government. Instead of compelling participation, the program provides incentives and assistance to farmers and ranchers for establishing valuable conservation practices that have a beneficial impact on resources both on and off the farm. It encourages farmers to voluntarily plant permanent covers of grass and trees on land that is subject to erosion, where vegetation can improve water quality or provide food and habitat for wildlife. This use of voluntarism helps make the CRP one of the most effective Federal conservation programs in operation today.