International Programs
The Natural Resources Conservation Service has a long history of
international involvement. Our first Chief, Hugh Hammond Bennett, and his
assistant, Dr. Walter Lowdermilk, traveled throughout the world in the 1930’s
and 1940’s to view soil and water conservation problems in other countries.
Dr. Lowdermilk documented his observations in “Conquest of the Land Through
7,000 Years”. During this same period, NRCS hosted many
international participants from other countries who observed what we were doing
to combat serious soil erosion and land use problems.
Not only did our early leaders share their conservation knowledge with other
countries, but they also learned what other nations were doing that would be
applicable in the United States. Our continued interest in international
work is based on these early observations.
The role of international programs in NRCS is to help other countries utilize
their natural resources without depleting them by providing technical
assistance; exchanging scientific and technical information; contributing to the
overall achievement of U.S. foreign policy that seeks to promote economic
stability, reduce poverty, and solve world food problems; and providing
opportunities that will broaden and increase the technical knowledge and
professional capability of NRCS personnel.
Our vision is that NRCS will be the world leader in developing and implementing
policies and programs for the conservation of natural resources and solicited
for assistance and advice.
Our mission is to share natural resource conservation knowledge with people in
other countries and participate in collaborative efforts that will result in
mutual benefits to the United States and our foreign partners.
|