Governors and their advisors have pursued various policies to conserve, farmland, ranchland, forests, and critical environmental areas. For example, states have adopted programs for land acquisition and easements; land preservation programs; forestry management and/or certification; and wetlands management.

One of the greatest challenges of working lands programs is recognizing the interconnection of all state and local land-use decisions. For example, the relationship between urban land use planning and its impact on surrounding working lands. The NGA Center for Best Practices is engaged in several activities to determine how best to protect the nation's natural resources while providing for economic and community growth.

Focus of Center Activities

Landowners, by the nature of their work, are close to the land and deserve their reputation as the "first conservationists." Nonetheless, the need to ensure genuine stewardship of the nation's natural resources poses one of the most significant challenges and opportunities facing private lands today.

The NGA Center for Best Practices is investigating state, local, and landowners' conservation needs and priorities. The information gathered can help state policy makers determine what barriers currently exist to more effective protection of private working lands and what types of conservation policies might provide greater environmental, natural resource, and quality of life benefits to the public.

Instead of regulation of private landowners or public acquisition of the land, the Center is investigating how to structure policies in a way that supports and encourages private landowners to serve as better stewards of their land while providing the maximum level of public benefits possible.

The Center hosted a workshop in Nashville, Tennessee on June 15-16, 2004 to explore how working forests conservation can support rural economic development. Strengthening Rural Economies through Working Forest Conservation involved state leaders from twelve states along with representatives of land trusts, local forestry, industry, and academia. CLICK HERE to access the workshop's agenda and speakers' presentations.

On March 16, 2001, the Center held a summit titled Private Lands, Public Benefits in Washington, DC. Over two hundred policy makers, agricultural and environmental interests, and industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of conservation policy and programs to support private farm, ranch, and forest owners. Go to the summit's SUMMARY for access to the agenda and speakers' presentations.

Related Links:

• Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection
• Environmental Laws Affecting State Agriculture
• USDA Forest Service - State & Private Forestry
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Conservation Programs