HELPING PEOPLE HELP THE LAND  USDA’S DRIVING FORCE

IN RESTORING NATURAL RESOURCE BALANCE AFTER KATRINA

Jackson, Mississippi, August 28, 2007Homer L. Wilkes, Mississippi State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), used the agency’s mission, “Helping People Help the Land,” as the catalyst for environmental rehabilitation efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The storm left many negative marks on the landscape and many agricultural producers in need of help.

In the last two years, NRCS has assisted thousands of landowners and agricultural producers in restoring their land and providing cost share incentives for improvement. Through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Program (EWP), 54.5 million dollars have been utilized by landowners for the removal of downed timber and debris to prevent flooding. Over 2.5 million tons of timber and debris have been removed from private land and streams.

NRCS assisted in the removal of more than 7.5 million dead birds from poultry operations through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In South Mississippi, other NRCS programs including the Wildlife Habitat Incentive (WHIP), EQIP and the Healthy Forest Restoration Program (HFRP) are providing over 2.5 million dollars to almost 1,000 landowners who are applying conservation treatments on their land.

The USDA NRCS Earth Team Volunteers donated over 1400 hours at a labor value of more than $25,000 in clean- up efforts in coastal counties. NRCS and partners in conservation are continuing clean up efforts on the barrier islands, nature trails, beach restoration and wildlife habitats.

Other instrumental projects included the donation of 20 vehicles from NRCS in other states to coastal city and county entities; NRCS employees stocked supplies and organized a community distribution center in Pearlington; a school bus loaded with school supplies came from Iowa; habitat house restoration; debris clean-up on the Pascagoula River, Ansley Park in Hancock County, and Fountain Park in D’Iberville. An estimated five tons of debris was removed from these areas according to the Department of Marine Resources.

NRCS employees and volunteers have been there to pitch in and clean-up; assist landowners in restoring their natural resources and are focusing on new and emgerging challenges in

conservation. Thousands of people and “their land” are beginning to see improvements and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will continue their efforts in, Helping People Help the Land.”

For more information on NRCS programs and assistance, visit the NRCS website, www. ms.nrcs.usda.gov. # # #

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