Excerpt
OUR nation is in a period of program re-evaluation. Many programs may be eliminated, merged with others, or redirected as a result. This is especially true for soil and water conservation programs given the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA), a tight federal budget, and replacement of a professional conservationist by a farm-oriented appointee as chief of the Soil Conservation Service.
Even as this re-evaluation is going on, however, there is one important issue that is not getting very wide public recognition or discussion. That is the issue of what role conservation programs and districts should play in nonfarm areas.
This issue was examined in depth in 1964 when the National Association of Conservation Districts established the Special Committee on District Outlook to study the strengths of districts and recommend future direction. Now is a good time to reflect on what direction committee members felt was important for conservation programs and the district movement.
In its report, “The Future of Districts, Strengthening Self-Government in Conservation and Resource Development,” published at the conclusion …
Footnotes
Marilyn D. Lundberg is executive secretary of the Southern Minnesota Rivers Basin Board, 600 American Center Building, 150 East Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101. She also is chairman of the Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District.
- Copyright 1982 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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