Federal Conservation Agency Recognizes Volunteers During Natural Volunteer Week

Nashville, TN — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee will recognize its Earth Team volunteers for exemplary conservation accomplishments during National Earth Team Volunteer Week, April 27-May 3, said State Conservationist Kevin Brown.

More than 400 Earth Team volunteers contributed over 7,000 hours in Tennessee during the past year—a value of about $132,000 for diverse conservation activities, said Brown. Nationally, more than 70,000 volunteers contributed more than 1 million hours valued at about $19 million to further NRCS’s mission of helping people help the land.

“NRCS in Tennessee is proud of the dedicated volunteers who have committed their time and talents to conserving and protecting soil, water and wildlife in their communities across the state,” Brown said. “Volunteers play a vital role in achieving our conservation goals and we have seen a significant increase in our conservation achievements because of their contributions.”

This year’s theme for the Earth Team Volunteer Program’s National Volunteer Week is “Volunteers…Lighting the Way.” This theme compliments a national campaign NRCS launched in February called “Conservation—Our Purpose, Our Passion.” This campaign demonstrates how producers, employees and volunteers are making a difference on the nation’s landscape. For more on the campaign, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/ourpurpose/index.html.

The NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program, created in 1985, offers numerous opportunities for individuals 14 years of age or older. With ever-increasing workloads and a declining workforce, volunteers are essential to helping NRCS carry out its mission. They help NRCS conservationists with diverse activities—from providing conservation technical assistance to teaching and generating awareness about conservation through community projects—by working on the land, in schools, with organizations and in offices. They help with natural resource projects that improve water quality, beautify communities and reduce erosion. They also contribute their clerical, computer and writing skills in NRCS and conservation district offices across the nation.

Additional information on the Earth Team Volunteer Program is available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/volunteers or call 1-888-LANDCARE. For more information about NRCS in Tennessee, please visit http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.