National Conservation Summit to Focus on Private Land
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0470.99
                                                               
                     Media contact: Susan McAvoy (202) 720-4623
                                         susan.mcavoy@usda.gov 
                   Public contact:  June Davidek (202) 720-3876
                                         june.davidek@usda.gov 


NATIONAL CONSERVATION SUMMIT TO FOCUS ON PRIVATE LAND

     WASHINGTON, November 29, 1999-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced that he will host a day-long National Summit on Private
Land Conservation on December 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Iowa State
University Memorial Union in Ames, Iowa.  The purpose of the summit is to take
a new look at conservation and forestry issues facing the nation's private
lands. 

     "As we enter the 21st century, one of our major challenges will be to
help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners conserve and protect our
nation's valuable private land," said Glickman.  The loss of prime
agricultural land to development, the health of our watersheds and the future
of private forest lands are some of the critical issues facing the Nation. 
Seventy percent of the land in the United States is private land, and what
happens to that land is crucial to our Nation's economic and environmental
well-being" said Glickman.

     "I'm hosting this conservation summit to help spur a public-private
dialogue to identify the key conservation issues we face in the new millennium
and to begin the search for solutions to these challenges," said Glickman.

     In recent years, USDA has expanded its conservation efforts beyond
curbing soil erosion to include farmland protection, improving water quality,
restoring wetlands, protecting soil productivity, enhancing fish and wildlife
habitat, and promoting conservation in the nation's cities and communities.

     At the morning session, a panel of elected officials, conservation
leaders, and others will  identify the critical conservation issues on private
land.  In the afternoon, individuals representing a cross-section of
interests, including private foundations, major corporations, and agricultural
and environmental groups, will address potential solutions to the critical
conservation issues.  Questions from the audience will be welcomed. 

     For more information on the national summit, see the NRCS Private Land
Conservation Forums/Summit website
http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/forums.html 


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