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May 12, 2009
NACD Receives Gold Star Award from Project Learning Tree
Last week Project Learning Tree (PLT) awarded its annual
Gold Star Award to NACD. The Gold Star Award is the highest
honor bestowed to PLT’s state coordinators and partnering
organizations. The Award acknowledges recipients’ dedication
to the mission and goals of Project Learning Tree program as
demonstrated by their years of exemplary service to the
organization. PLT states that it is an immeasurably better
organization because of the care and commitment, devotion
and dedication, energy and expertise of these winners.
NACD has had a Memorandum of Understanding with PLT since
1995. The MOU was re-signed and updated in 2008 and has
extended the partnership to include assistance with two
pilot soils workshops in conjunction with Smithsonian and
Soil Science Society of America. Joint efforts also include
designs for additional soils workshops, a training workshop
at the NACD Annual Conference, sessions at the PLT
conference and coordinated planning on future NACD education
projects. NACD Stewardship and Education Coordinator Susan
Schultz accepted the award on behalf of NACD at the
International PLT Conference held in Indianapolis last week.
Job Opening: NACD Communications Associate and Web
Manager
The National Association of Conservation Districts is
seeking a Communication Associate and Web Manager. The
selected candidate will maintain and improve extensive
website, write for newsletters, participate in conference
planning and assist with member outreach and presentations.
A full job description is available on NACD's website.
We are seeking a candidate that has strong communication,
writing and computer skills; experience with web
design/maintenance; and a bachelor’s degree in related
field. Please email a copy of your resume and two writing
samples to jobs@nacdnet.org to apply.
NACD Joins Other Organizations to Propose Biomass
Definition
NACD recently joined 66 other organizations in a letter to
Congress proposing the inclusion of forest biomass as an
energy source to meet a renewable electricity standard. The
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which is
currently under debate in the House Energy and Commerce
Committee, proposes a biomass definition that severely
limits what would qualify as eligible renewable woody
biomass. The coalition letter supports expansion of the
biomass definition, recommends that eligible forest biomass
comes from all forest types and ownerships, permits
forest-health related harvests from federal lands and
protects wildlife, water and soils. The full text of the
joint letter is available on the NACD website.
President Releases Details of FY2010 Budget
Last week, President Obama released a detailed budget
outlining his priorities for fiscal year 2010 (FY10). Many
federal program reductions and eliminations were proposed in
the FY10 budget, including cuts to several key conservation
programs.
Proposed reductions include programs such as the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program,
the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and Conservation
Technical Assistance. Proposed program eliminations include
Watershed Operations and the Resource Conservation and
Development program.
NACD continues to advance support of conservation programs
as Congress and the Administration works on FY10 funding.
Climate Debate Continues
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Members
continue closed-door negotiations on climate legislation,
the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The
Committee’s scheduled public meeting has been continually
delayed due to negotiations and efforts to garner sufficient
votes for the proposal to pass it out of committee. At issue
are emissions reductions, allocation of emission credits,
treatment of existing voluntary carbon credit markets and
several other issues (see related story). Committee Chairman
Waxman (D-CA) is still pursuing Committee action prior to
the Memorial Day Recess, but a public meeting has not yet
been scheduled.
The Energy and Commerce Committee does not have jurisdiction
over the Department of Agriculture and cannot determine a
potential role for USDA in climate change. Working on behalf
of the Agriculture Committee, Chairman Collin Peterson
(D-MN) has indicated he is involved in climate change
discussions.
Wilkes Announced as USDA Undersecretary Nominee
This past week, President Obama announced his intent to
nominate Dr. Homer Lee Wilkes as USDA Undersecretary for
Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). If confirmed by
the Senate, Dr. Wilkes will oversee the day-to-day
operations of both the USDA Forest Service and the USDA
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).
Currently, Dr. Wilkes serves as State Conservationist with
NRCS in Mississippi. His service with NRCS spans more than
30 years in various positions across the country. Dr. Wilkes’
formal education includes Bachelors and Masters of Business
Administration degrees and a PhD. in Urban Conservation
Planning and Higher Education from Jackson State University.
A Senate confirmation hearing has not yet been scheduled.
NACD congratulates Dr. Wilkes on his nomination and looks
forward to woking with him in this new role.
EPA Livestock Webinar Scheduled for May 15
The National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning
Center is hosting a webcast on May 15 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern
time. Entitled "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Animal Feeding
Operations", the webcast will cover the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed reporting rule and state
of the science in measuring emissions from confined housing
and open sources. Featured speakers for the event are from
EPA, University of California-Davis, and Purdue University.
The meeting room will be opened approximately 15 minutes
before the scheduled start time, and slides will be posted
on the morning before the live broadcast. Learn more about
the webcast series at http://www.extension.org/pages/Live_Webcast_Information or participate at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc.
Conservation Funding Available Through
FWS
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program was established
to return private lands to an ecological condition that
likely existed prior to loss or degradation and to benefit
Federal Trust Species.
Under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Act, the
Secretary of Interior has been authorized to provide
technical and financial assistance to private landowners
interested in restoring, enhancing and managing fish and
wildlife habitats on their own land. Conservation districts
may qualify for this assistance, and many are already
engaged in this program.
If you are interested in this funding opportunity, please
contact your local Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
coordinator. A listing of coordinators can be found at
http://www.fws.gov/partners/ or contact the Branch of
Habitat Restoration by phone at 703-358-2201.
2010 & 2011 Stewardship Themes Announced
With 2009 Stewardship Week barely in the rearview mirror,
many conservation districts are already making plans for
future years’ Stewardship efforts. NACD’s 2010 Stewardship
materials will carry a habitat and wildlife theme with a
conservation focus. NACD’s Stewardship and Education
Committee will be determining the official theme; feel free
to share theme ideas with the Committee via email at
stewardship@nacdnet.org.
In addition, the United Nations has declared 2011 the
International Year of the Forests. To join forces with a
variety of partners in promoting forestry-related education
materials, efforts and projects, NACD’s 2011 Stewardship
materials will carry a forestry theme.
Additional information regarding NACD’s stewardship and
education materials and efforts is available online at http://nacdnet.org/stewardship&education/.
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