Lessons learned from using a decision-support tool for precision placement of conservation practices in six agricultural watersheds in the US midwest

This paper examines how the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF), a GIS-based decision support tool, aids conservation professionals in precision placement of conservation practices across six watersheds in the US Midwest. Through in-depth interviews with 21 conservation professionals, the authors find that the ACPF promotes watershed-scale thinking, supports targeted conservation planning, and streamlines stakeholder engagement. The study identifies a set of strategies that enable successful producer engagement, such as pre-planning (“armchair conservation”), field validation, coordination, and the use of local influencers. The authors conclude that while decision support tools like ACPF are valuable for precision conservation, effective outcomes also depend on trust-building, local adaptation, and expediting the conservation delivery process.