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Award Identifying Number: NEST Agreement Number: 2. contains historical or archaeological resources; 3. the enrollment of which would protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving land; or 4. the protection of which will further a State or local policy consistent with the purposes of ACEP. WHEREAS, eligible landowner means all persons, legal entities, or Indian Tribes having legal ownership of land and those who may be buying eligible land under a written purchase agreement. The term landowner may include all forms of collective ownership including joint tenants, tenants -in- common, and life tenants. State governments, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that qualify as eligible entities are not eligible as landowners. In addition, to be eligible a landowner must meet the applicable highly erodible land and wetland compliance provisions of the Act. =&. WHEREAS, Section 1265A of the Act defines an Agricultural Land Easement as an easement on eligible land that is conveyed for the purpose of protecting natural resources and the agricultural nature of the land; and permits the landowner the right to continue agricultural production and related uses subject to an agricultural land easement plan, as approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. WHEREAS, the ENTITY and the United States have mutual interests in protecting eligible land for agricultural use and future viability, and related conservation values, by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land or protecting grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving agricultural land; and WHEREAS, the United States administers the ACEP through NRCS on behalf of the CCC; and WHEREAS, the ENTITY administers an agricultural land easement program and has written pending offers for acquiring Agricultural Land Easements on eligible land from landowners within NORTH CAROLINA, the ENTITY has submitted these eligible lands to the United States for consideration for funding under ACEP, the Parties have agreed to combine their resources to assure that such eligible lands are protected for agricultural use and future viability, and related conservation values, by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land or for grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving these areas, and the Parties have identified these eligible lands on the Attachment A to this Cooperative Agreement as Parcels (as a group the Parcels and individually as the Parcel). WHEREAS, the ENTITY intends to acquire a perpetual, or for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws, Agricultural Land Easement on each Parcel. WHEREAS, this Cooperative Agreement stipulates the terms and conditions under which the eligible entity is permitted to use NRCS Federal cost -share assistance provided under Section 2301 of the Act. WHERAS, the ENTITY has signed the Notice of Grant and Agreement Award acknowledging that the award is subject to the terms and conditions of this Cooperative Agreement and all applicable laws, regulations, and policy, including without limitation Financial Assistance Regulations, of the United States. THEREFORE, the Parties agree to enter into this Cooperative Agreement. III. BENEFITS The benefit of this Cooperative Agreement is that funds will be provided to the ENTITY, also known herein as the Cooperating Entity, for the protection of eligible land for agricultural use and future viability, and related conservation values, land by limiting nonagricultural uses of that land or for grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring and conserving the agricultural land as grassland. Section 1265B of the Agricultural Act of 2014 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide funding 2 NRCS Representative Initial Recipient Representative Initial Attachment number 1 F -7 Page 157