[MPWG] RC&D Comment Period Open till Jan 31

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Forwarding this message to the listserve involving the USDA-NRCS Resource
Conservation and Development (RC&D) Programs because non-timber forest
products (NTFPs) include medicinal plants, too!

Also, stay tuned for more information on the outcomes of a meeting among
USDA-ARS organic farming program leaders to devise ways that ARS can
contribute to the needs of producers.  I hope to post outcomes from this
meeting as soon as they are available.

Read on...

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 01/06/2005 04:50
PM -----
                                                                                                                                      
                      Eric T Jones                                                                                                    
                      <etjones at ifcae.o         To:      "Ajit Krishnaswamy" <ajit at nnfp.org>, "Ajit Krishnaswamy" <ajit at nnfp.org>,     
                      rg>                      "Tamara Walkingstick" <twalkingstick at uaex.edu>, "Su Alexander" <salexander at fs.fed.us>, 
                                               "Sherlette Colegrove" <scolegrove at pcweb.net>, "Shana Byrd" <shana at ruralaction.org>,    
                      01/06/2005 11:22         "Sandra D. Jones" <majiksdj at aol.com>, "Renee Stauffer" <Renee50_ at hotmail.com>, "Penny  
                      AM                       Frazier" <penny at pinenut.com>, "Patricia DeAngelis" <Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov>,       
                                               "Nanda Shewmangal" <nanda at nnfp.org>, "Luna Latimer" <latimerL at onid.orst.edu>, "Lisa    
                                               Claussen" <roadside at cybernet1.com>, "Katie Bagby" <KBagby at FCResearch.org>, "Erika      
                                               Merklin" <aksupernaturalteas at yahoo.com>, "Eric T Jones" <etj-list at ifcae.org>, "Denise  
                                               Smith" <alliancefwh at pcweb.net>, "Colin Donahue" <colind at ruralaction.org>, "Barbara     
                                               Mitchell" <sophiafarm at bellsouth.net>, "Gus Townes" <TownesG at forestry.state.al.us>      
                                               cc:                                                                                    
                                               Subject: RC&D Comment Period Open till Jan 31                                          
                                                                                                                                      




Dear NNFP NTFP Working Group members,

I'm forwarding this request for comments from Terry D'Addio, National RC&D
Program Manager, Natural Resources Conservation Service.  What does this
have to do with NTFPs, not as much as it could if we all take 10 minutes
and submit a short letter indicating we would like to see Resource
Conservation
and Development (RC&D)Programs help advance NTFP sustainable development.
RC&Ds are located in communities throughout the country and are getting
more involved with things like promoting small organic farms and
agroforestry systems.
If you want to learn more about RC&Ds before commenting you can visit:
http://www.rcdnet.org/

Thanks, ej

-----------------------------------


SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) will solicit comments on the activities
of the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program. Section
2504 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L.
107­ 171) requires that the Secretary of Agriculture, in
consultation with the National Association of Resource Conservation
and Development Councils (NAR&DC), evaluate the RC&D Program to
determine whether it is effectively meeting the needs of, and
purposes identified by, States, units of governments, Indian tribes,
non-profit organizations, and councils participating in, or served
by, the program. The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through NRCS,
will conduct this evaluation, and submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the U.S. House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a
report describing the results of the evaluation, together with any
recommendations of the Secretary for continuing, terminating, or
modifying the program by June 30, 2005.

As part of this evaluation, NRCS is conducting an open comment
period for all interested parties to solicit comments on the
activities of the program. Comments will be solicited on, and should
be limited to, the following topics: (1) RC&D Program effectiveness
in meeting the needs of the States, units of government, Indian
tribes, non-profit organizations, and RC&D councils served by the
program; (2) RC&D Program effectiveness in developing community
leadership conservation; (3) RC&D Program elements that best serve
regional conservation and development needs; (4) RC&D Program
elements that can be strengthened to better serve regional
conservation and development needs.

DATES: Effective Dates: The comment period will be open from
December 8, 2004, through January 31, 2004. Written comments may be
submitted, no later than January 31, 2005, to Terry D'Addio,
National RC&D Program Manager, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6013, South Building,
Washington, DC 20250.