WASHINGTON, DC – The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and its Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group (AWWG) today applauded Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns’ recent appointment of Arlen Lancaster as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The NRCS Chief oversees implementation of nearly all the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) cadre of conservation programs that play critical roles in assisting private landowners in sustaining the health of America’s cropland and ranchland.
The TRCP facilitates coalition work on Farm Bill conservation programs through the AWWG. Jennifer Mock, Farm Bill Coordinator for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and an AWWG co-chair, said, “Successful placement of USDA conservation practices on the ground by private landowners requires a combination of adequate program funding, technical advice and assistance, and finite benefits to the landowner. I’m very pleased the new NRCS Chief has both the legislative and USDA background to ‘hit the ground running’ in the continued implementation of 2002 Farm Bill conservation programs and as we begin crafting the Conservation Title of the 2007 Farm Bill.”
Lancaster served as the staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization during the 2002 Farm Bill and as deputy assistant secretary of Congressional Relations at USDA.
Bart James, Ducks Unlimited Director of Governmental Affairs, is an AWWG's co-chair. Thursday, after learning of Lancaster’s appointment, James said, “Arlen Lancaster’s love of the outdoors and passion for conservation, coupled with his legislative and governmental experience, makes him a perfect fit for the job as NRCS Chief.”
David Nomsen, AWWG Co-Chair and Vice-President of Governmental Affairs for Pheasants Forever, said, “With the unprecedented prominence conservation programs have attained in early 2007 Farm Bill discussions, as well as the recognition that cooperative conservation is the key to successful program delivery, I’m very pleased to know that someone of Mr. Lancaster’s background and stature has been appointed as NRCS Chief.”
For more information on Farm Bill conservation programs, and to learn about the work of the AWWG, please contact TRCP Policy Initiatives Manager, Lynn Tjeerdsma, at 202-654-4617 or lynnt@trcp.org.
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The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is a coalition of leading conservation organizations and individual grassroots partners, working together to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitat, increase funding for conservation and management, and expand access to places to hunt and fish.