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October 12, 2010
NACD Accepting Applications for Spring Internship
NACD is looking for an intern to work a 15-week winter
internship from January-April 2011 at NACD’s main office in
Washington, D.C. The intern will work with the Legislative
Affairs and Communications staff to advance the association’s
legislative agenda. He/she will learn the legislative process
and gain valuable hands-on experience.
The intern will gain a working knowledge of Congress, federal
natural resource and environmental agencies, and an
understanding of the roles conservation districts and state
conservation agencies play in the development of natural
resource, agricultural and environmental policies. The selected
intern will also assist and attend NACD’s Annual Meeting in
Nashville, Tenn.
NACD interns are typically college juniors or seniors who are
interested in the environment and/or agriculture. Interns are
expected to work full time, but special arrangements can be
made if classes need to be taken locally to receive college
credit. A performance-based stipend is awarded at its
conclusion. The intern is expected to find their own housing,
but staff can provide assistance and advice with the process.
Please send applications to Danielle Dills.
NACD participates in NRCS Strategic Planning
Last week, NRCS invited conservation and agriculture
partners to discuss ideas for a five-year strategic plan.
NACD participated in two meetings and provided suggestions
in line with NACD policy, including: keeping decision-making
as close to the field as possible; placing emphasis on the
federal-state-local government delivery system; maintaining
a focus on streamlining and improving procedures at the field
office level; and adopting policy and procedures that will
result in additional technical assistance.
NACD also invited and received input from a team of NRCS
leaders for its own strategic plan. These partnership efforts
are important as we lay the groundwork to increase conservation
accomplishments across the country.
NRCS Extends CSP Sign-Up
Last week, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Chief Dave White announced the application deadline for the
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been extended to
January 7, 2011. This program was authorized in the 2008
Farm Bill and offers payments to producers who maintain a
high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt
higher levels of stewardship. CSP is offered in all 50 states,
District of Columbia, and Pacific and Caribbean areas.
According to Chief White, the extension will hopefully allow
more producers to participate in the program.
CSP provides conservation improvements, including water and
soil quality, wildlife habitat enhancement and the adoption
of conservation activities addressing climate change.
Eligible land includes cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and
nonindustrial forestland. All eligible producers are
encouraged to apply.
For more information on CSP, click here.
NACD Presents Group Partnership Award
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) recently
awarded the Stan Adams Current Achievement Award for
Partnership to the Forest-Climate Working Group (FCWG). The
award recognizes the unified effort to build consensus on
the meaningful role of forests in addressing climate change.
The award was presented during the NASF annual meeting in Orlando.
The FCWG was started in 2007 and is co-chaired by the American
Forest Foundation and the Trust for Public Land. The Group
has broad representation from nearly all sectors of the
forestry community, including the forest products industry,
conservation and wildlife groups, foresters, private forest
owners, academics, and carbon finance groups. NACD has been
a participating member of FCWG since 2008, and endorsed the
FCWG policy platform in 2009.
For more information on the FCWG, click here.
For a link to the policy platform, click here.
EPA Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a
five-year strategic plan for fiscal years 2011-15. The plan
consists of five strategic goals to fulfill EPA’s mission to
protect human health and the environment.
The strategic goals include: taking action on climate change
and improving air quality; protecting America’s waters;
cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development;
ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution;
and enforcing environmental laws. These goals reinforce
Administrator Lisa Jackson’s priorities, such as reducing
greenhouse gases, adapting to climate change and promoting
smart growth within communities.
The strategic plan has undergone a public comment period and
is currently being reviewed by more than 800 organizations
and individuals. For more information, click here.
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