The Local Working Group (LWG) is a diverse group of people with agricultural and natural resource interests. LWGs provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs.
What is a Local Working Group?
The Local Working Group (LWG) is a diverse group of people with agricultural and natural resource interests. Members may be agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock raised within the local area; owners of nonindustrial private forest land; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; and representatives of governmental agencies carrying out agricultural and natural resource conservation programs and activities for the area.
To ensure that LWG recommendations take into account the broad scope of people served by USDA, members will include historically underserved groups, such as women and minorities; persons with disabilities; beginning and limited resource farmers, and socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Individuals or groups wanting to become a LWG member may submit a request to their NRCS District Conservationist explaining their interest and credentials for becoming a member.
Each NRCS field office throughout the state hosts an annual Local Work Group Meeting to gather input from local landowners and partners about natural resource needs in the county. This locally-led process helps inform California's conservation priorities and strategy across the state.
Local Work Group Meetings are a valuable part of the NRCS planning process, providing an opportunity for local land managers to be part of a collaborative effort to improve natural resources within their county.
Participants help:
- identify where the best investments can be made to address natural resource problems,
- share the work that has already been done in the county, and
- share their vision for what the county will look like when these natural resource concerns have been addressed.