71st SWCS International Annual Conference July 24-27, 2016 Louisville, KY

1. National Conservation Planning
Partnership (NCPP)
Beth Mason
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
Tuesday, July 26, 2016

2.  Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
 National Association of State Conservation Agencies
(NASCA)
 National Conservation District Employees Association
(NCDEA)
 National Association of Resource Conservation
Development Councils (NARC&DC)
5 National Conservation Partners

3. To reinvigorate conservation planning as the foundation
for voluntary conservation delivery.
To expand the ability of field conservationists
 to work with customers in developing and
implementing conservation plans
 ensure adequate time to be out on the land working
with customers
 improve consistency in the planning process.
Purpose

4.  Prior to the 1985 Farm Bill – conservation planning was an
integral role
 Programs added, priorities changed
 Original core mission – to be the technical conservation
leaders in the community
 Increased number of priorities = increased workload
 Decreased number of employees
 Unsustainable strain on conservation partnership
employees
Background

5. 1. Reinvigorate conservation planning
2. Improve capacity to deliver assistance
3. Ensure the delivery of technically sound science‐
based assistance
4. Build a workforce of strong conservation planners.
NCPP Team Objectives

6.  Communication and Messaging
 Partnership and Leveraging
 Technical Processes, Tools, and Integration
 Training, Development, and Certification
 Performance, Outcomes, and Accountability
5 Sub Committees

7.  Lack of adequate time for proper conservation
planning
 Need for sufficient training for conservation planners
 Competent technical tools and processes
Initial Feedback

8.  Customer Service Toolkit updates that increase user
productivity
 Conservation Desktop for Conservation Delivery
Streamlining Initiative (CDSI) that integrate processes
 Program Support Specialists to assist field offices
 Document Management System
 Roll‐out of an expanded boot‐camp training session
 Full time communications coordinator position
Response

9.  NRCS and Conservation District Employees surveyed
 Focus Groups with farmers and ranchers
 Surveys of farmers and ranchers
 Further engagement with commodity groups
 A component to working with the private sector
Continued Feedback Sought

10. Conservation Planning Document
Vision:
Improved enhanced
conservation delivery to
our customers by a highly
skilled conservation
partnership workforce
through improved
training, tools, capacity
and experience.

11.  Both a long term and a short term effort
 Includes all stakeholders
 The goal is to provide needed services in a quality
fashion.
Key Points in Closing