Making the most of the new soil conservation initatives

Excerpt

CONSERVATIONISTS dedicated to advancing the science and art of good land and water use were given a Christmas present a little more than a year ago. On December 23, 1985, the president signed the Food Security Act of 1985 with its conservation title (Title XII), which has been heralded as the most significant soil and water conservation legislation since the 1930s.

The first year of efforts to translate the several conservation provisions of that law (P.L. 99-198) into action is history. Now SCSA and others in the conservation community must do everything possible to implement fully those several conservation provisions of this important new law to help ensure good use of land.

High expectations of a year ago are viewed today in a more pragmatic environment. In early 1987 conservationists must help seek answers to at least four questions

▸ Just how significant is Title XII, and what is the potential of its various provisions to resolve land and water conservation problems that persist after 50 years of traditional conservation programs at all levels of government, programs that for the most part have been voluntary in nature?

▸ What if any provisions of the conservation title may be …