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August 18, 2009
Conservation Leaders Gather in Louisiana
District officials and partners from across the South
Central Region met in Baton Rouge, La., last week for the
annual regional meeting. The Louisiana Association of
Conservation Districts hosted the meeting and tours.
Climate change discussions took center stage at the meeting.
A wide variety of presenters addressed the topic from many
different perspectives. The group heard from two
meteorologists who discussed the science behind climate
change. George Pietrogallo of ExxonMobil and David Dsimukes,
Ph.D., lead the discussion on energy issues and the impacts
of climate change legislation. Clay Pope with the Oklahoma
Association of Conservation Districts and Ben Pollard with
the Oklahoma Conservation Commission addressed the potential
roles for conservation districts should Congress pass
climate change legislation.
The meeting participants also toured the port of Baton
Rouge. The port is the head of deepwater navigation on the
Mississippi River; a 45-foot shipping channel to the mouth
of the Mississippi River is maintained by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
NACD was represented at the meeting by Second Vice President
Earl Garber, CEO Doug Loudenslager and Member Services
Representative Tamara Daniel. Garber and Loudenslager both
presented NACD updates on association activity, ongoing
legislative efforts and the upcoming NACD Annual Meeting.
Secretary Vilsack Establishes New Tribal Conservation
District
On August 12, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack attended the
signing ceremony establishing the Kuigglugmiut Tribal
Conservation District in Kwethluk, Alaska. Kwethluk, a
village of 700 residents, is located 12 air miles east of
Bethel, Alaska. The Kuigglugmiut Tribal Conservation
District is now the third tribal conservation district in
Alaska and the thirty-third tribal district in the nation.
The conservation district will work with residents and NRCS
to develop a land management plan based on the Kwethluk
Tribe’s traditional conservation practices.
Vilsack was in Alaska with Energy Secretary Steven Chu,
Education Secretary Duncan, and Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Donovan as part of the Obama
Administration’s “Rural Tour” to discuss efforts to rebuild
and revitalize rural America, listen to local residents’
opinions of the federal government programs, and discuss
solutions to challenges facing their communities. The “Rural
Tour” will be visiting other states in the coming months.
For details visit http://www.ruraltour.gov/.
NACD Participates in Threats to Western Private Forests
Initiative
NACD was recently asked to be a member of the report
drafting committee for the Threats to Western Private
Forests initiative. The initiative was organized this
spring by the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition with
the goal of having a final report prepared by early
December 2009. This report’s intent is to inform forestry
policy at the local, state and national levels—making it
useful to conservation districts, state associations and
NACD. The committee also intends to address social, economic
or ecological issues threatening the health and
sustainability of western private forests. Finally, the
report will largely be based on survey information gathered
early this year in five workshops during which key
stakeholders provided input on threats to the health and
sustainability of private forests in the western U.S.
Detailed information regarding the initiative is available
on the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition website at
http://www.wflccenter.org/forestthreats/. Contact NACD
Western Issues Specialist Ralph-Thier@nacdnet.org with
questions.
Input Needed on Status of Natural Resources
NRCS is seeking input on the status of natural resources in
your local area. The Soil and Water Resources Conservation
Act (RCA) directs NRCS to write an appraisal on the status
of natural resources. In order to complete this document,
NRCS needs to hear from you. NRCS must deliver their report
to Congress in January 2011 and is undertaking a formal
comment period now. Your comments to NRCS are important in
helping to shape future conservation policy. Congress will
use the appraisal and future reports on conservation
policies and programs to guide future legislation,
investments in conservation programs and the 2012 Farm Bill.
NACD hosted several listening sessions on the RCA at our
region and national meetings this summer, but NRCS is also
accepting written comments. Information on how to submit
comments can be found on the NACD website at
http://nacdnet.org/events/rca/.
EPA Holds Agriculture Listening Session on Chesapeake Bay
Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
held a listening session for agriculture interests
regarding a proposal EPA is required to complete under and
Executive Order from the President. Under the Order, EPA,
USDA and three other federal agencies must release a draft
report next month on protecting and restoring the Chesapeake
Bay.
NACD Senior Director of Public Policy Keira Franz
participated in the session, as well as conservation
district representatives from Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia and West Virginia, and NASCA president Mike Brown
from Delaware. The discussion focused on EPA’s ideas for
next generation nutrient management plans, expanding CAFO
regulations to include more operations, increased
accountability and guarantees that producers are undertaking
practices on their operations. Concerns were raised about
increased requirements without financial and technical
assistance to assist producers facing tough economic times.
EPA is also holding sessions with homebuilders and
urban/suburban interest which are likely to face increased
regulatory requirements under this effort to achieve water
quality goals by 2025. Click here to view the executive order on the White House website.
Comments Sought on the Conservation Reserve Program
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is taking comments on
the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) until
August 28, 2009. The 2008 Farm Bill altered programs under
CRP and reduced the total acreage cap. FSA is looking for
comments on these changes, which have been effective since
June 29, 2009. The agency is also seeking input on the
future of the program, including environmental needs and
other needs and goals. Click here to view the proposal and find details on how to provide
comments.
SCI Provides Flexible Funding Opportunity for
Conservation Districts
The Safari Club International Foundation is an international conservation foundation which funds and
manages worldwide programs focusing on wildlife
conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services.
Small grant opportunities are available for both government
agencies and non-profit organizations ranging from $1,000 -
$5,000 for sustainable conservation programs.
Before applying for this grant opportunity, applicants are
encouraged to visit the foundation’s website and review some of their recent conservation projects to
understand where their efforts have been focused and how
your program may complement or align with their objectives.
Applications for funding through the SCI Foundation are not
limited to an existing program and may be submitted
throughout the year. For the SCI Foundation Small Grant
Application form,
please visit their website at http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/.
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