Excerpt
CONSERVATION education has always been an essential part of natural resource management. It has become even more important because of the dramatic shifts in conservation policies brought on by the 1985 and 1990 farm bills. Policy and program changes have important implications for landowners. Local resource managers, Extension agents, and others are working together to develop and conduct innovative educational programs to ensure compliance with the provisions. A number of new actors are becoming involved in conservation programs. New state and national initiatives, including those aimed at water quality, make the team approach more important now than ever before.
Educational obstacles to conservation must be overcome (1, 2). Many farm operators may not recognize their own erosion problems or appreciate all of erosion's costs, especially off-site problems. Some may not understand government conservation policies or programs. Technical information and assistance to overcome such obstacles is usually available for those who are interested (3). Local resource managers need new types of information and skills to help farm operators Overcome the obstacles. Education especially can help overcome those …
Footnotes
Thomas J. Hoban, W, is an associate professor and state extension sociology specialist, Department of Sociology and Anthroplogy, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, 27695-8107.
- Copyright 1992 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society