Earth Team Volunteers Help USDA NRCS Protect Natural Resources in the Pacific Islands Area

U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leaders and employees honor Earth Team volunteers and celebrate their numerous contributions to protecting natural resources in the Pacific Islands Area (PIA) during National Volunteer Week, April 21 - 27, 2024.

The Earth Team volunteer program allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to provide diverse services to agricultural producers, private landowners and the public. These activities include conservation technical assistance, office support and conservation education through community projects.

"The amount of time an Earth Team volunteer donates is critical to helping NRCS PIA achieve its mission of helping people help the land," said NRCS PIA Director J.B. Martin. "Whether a volunteer donates a month, a year, or a lifetime, those hours matter cumulatively because they stretch our human resources and enable us to do even more."

In 2023, Earth Team volunteers in PIA contributed more than 53.5 hours to support our agency's mission and its critical conservation work. Volunteer efforts allow NRCS to offer more conservations services to farmers and/or ranchers throughout PIA, providing about $1,701.30 of benefits to NRCS customers and taxpayers in 2023.

Below are examples of volunteers and their projects to help NRCS employees work with producers and other private landowners to conserve soil, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.

• Assisted with outreach at Inarajan Mayor's Office (Disaster Relief Center) after Typhoon Mawar.
• Assisted NRCS District Conservationists at public forums with farmers about NRCS disaster assistance through Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) and Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).
• Assisted in the office with customer walk-ins. Assisted with filing papers into customer plans and contracts.

The Earth Team volunteer program helps its participants expand their skills and knowledge through community projects. The program also offers participants community service hours, earned academic credit and an unpaid internship in federal service. Those interested in volunteering can visit the Earth Team program webpageto sign up for volunteer opportunities in your community or to learn more about the program.