NRCS Celebrates Earth Day and Earth Team Volunteers

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2001–Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) celebrates Earth Day (nationally observed on April 22) and National Volunteer Week, April 22-28.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program that provides opportunities for people who need professional work experience or academic credit or want to work with others to protect and conserve natural resources.

"Earth Day is a special time to focus on conservation on private lands, which is critical to the environmental health of our Nation," said Pearlie S. Reed, NRCS Chief. "Everyday, thousands of Earth Team volunteers across the country work with private landowners to conserve the natural resources in their communities."

Last year, 38,000 Earth Team volunteers nationwide contributed more than 900,000 hours of their time to conservation on private lands. Volunteers help farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners with conservation practices and projects that reduce wind and water erosion, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce flooding. They also help people of all ages learn about conservation through hands-on educational activities.

At today’s awards ceremony in Washington DC, six Earth Team volunteers were recognized for their contributions to conservation. The honorees were Chad Latiolais, Louisiana; Randy Thompson, Maryland; Sonia Santos, Michigan; Vicki Bauer, Nebraska; William Eagle, Oregon; and James Beckley, Virginia.

As part of the celebration, NRCS rolled out a new public service announcement–narrated by actor Morgan Freeman–encouraging people to "take care of our planet and join the Earth Team."

"America was built on the spirit of volunteerism," said Reed. "We are grateful for the contributions of our Earth Team volunteers. We have a big job to do and volunteers are a vital part of getting conservation on the land."

Earth Day and Earth Team conservation activities are being held across the country throughout the month. NRCS is participating in many of these activities including: helping students at the Mississippi School for the Blind plant trees on the newly constructed campus, participating in a public forum on environmental issues with the Virginia Tech Environmental Coalition, and seeding native grasses and shrubs around a public bicycle loop in the State of Washington.

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NOTE: Earth Day events by state are listed at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

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