the conservation security program (csp) was a voluntary conservation program in the united states that supported stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments and technical assistance for maintaining and enhancing natural resources. the program promoted the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes. congress established the csp under the farm security and rural investment act of 2002 (fsria), which amended the food security act of 1985. the program was administered by the natural resources conservation service (nrcs), an agency of the united states department of agriculture (usda).