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The Williams College Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program, Storey Publishing and Images Cinema Present: Farm Film Fest on Sunday, March 13
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (March 5, 2011) – In celebration of Spring and the upcoming growing season, the Williams College Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program, Storey Publishing and Images Cinema will present Farm Film Fest: A Day of Film and Food on Sunday afternoon, March 13. Hosted by Images Cinema at 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, two screenings and five films about food and farming will be presented beginning at 1 p.m. with a local cheese tasting sponsored, in part, by Mezze Catering.
“The Berkshire region is truly a leader in the ‘honest food’ movement – most of the issues play out here, and in the Berkshires we’ve found solutions that have often had national significance,” said Deborah Burns, acquiring editor at Storey Publishing. “The Farm Film Fest is an opportunity for our local community to connect with global issues surrounding the food movement.”
This is the second year for Farm Film Fest, which originated from the surging interest in food and farm issues and the many films that are addressing various aspects of this urgent subject.
“The Farm Film Fest ties in directly with our program’s mission and is an excellent opportunity to learn about sustainable food from many perspectives,” said Katharine Millonzi, manager of the Williams College Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program.
At 1 p.m. Images Cinema will present The Economics of Happiness. At 2:30 p.m., Images will present the Know Your Food: Shorts Program with four films including The Mast Brothers, Some Like It Raw, Obsessives: Urban Farming and Obsessives: Soda Pop.
Mezze Catering will present a cheese tasting between screenings featuring local cheeses from Massachusetts, Vermont and New York State.
The Economics of Happiness features a chorus of voices from six continents, including Vandana Shiva and Bill McKibben, calling for systemic economic change. The documentary describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. Directed by Steven Gorelick, Helena Norberg-Hodge and John Page; Not Rated; 1 hour 5 minutes.
The Mast Brothers documentary offers a tour of the Mast Brothers' bean-to-bar chocolate factory – one of just a handful in the U.S. The Brooklyn-based chocolatiers, Rick and Michael Mast, walk the viewer through their uniquely intensive process, DIY machines and a little of their food philosophy. Produced by Cool Hunting; Directed by Michael Tyburski; 4 minutes.
Some Like it Raw is an animated documentary about raw milk, made using wire-armature dolls, watercolors and fabric cutouts. Directed by Andrea Love; 10 minutes.
Obsessives: Urban Farming features Novella Carpenter, urban farmer and author of Farm City, who started small with some plants in an empty lot next to her home in Oakland, Calif. A couple of years later, she was tending to a full-blown farm with goats, turkeys, ducks, pigs and a robust garden. This video tackles questions of neighborliness (which is more offensive: police sirens or roosters crowing?), environmental poisons (raised beds are key), and the all-important slaughter question. Produced by Chow.com; 13 minutes.
Obsessives: Soda Pop is a documentary featuring John Nese, the proprietor of Galcos Soda Pop Stop in Los Angeles. His father ran it as a grocery store, and when the time came for John to take charge, he decided to convert it into the ultimate soda-lovers’ destination. About 500 pops line the shelves, sourced lovingly by John from around the world. John has made it his mission to keep small soda-makers afloat and help them find their consumers. Produced by Chow.com; 13 minutes.
The cost is $5 per screening ($5 for the 1 p.m. and $5 for the 2:30 p.m) with a complimentary cheese tasting for patrons who attend the film(s). For more information, including a detailed list of films and events, visit www.farmfilmfest.com or contact Images Cinema at 413.458.5612.
* * * * * * *
The Farm Film Fest is sponsored by the Williams College Sustainable Food & Agriculture Program, which aims to foster in future generations a passion for responsible environmental stewardship and the rediscovery of vital food. Their mission is to coordinate, inspire and provide leadership to further develop academic resources, extra-curricular opportunities and practical approaches to sustainable food from a broad range of perspectives – social justice, environmental, cultural and economic. Visit http://sustainability.williams.edu/category/food/about-sfap for more info.
The mission of Storey Publishing, in North Adams, MA, is to serve its customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. For more information on Storey Publishing, visit www.storey.com
The only one of its kind in Berkshire County, Images Cinema is a year-round non-profit, member-supported community film house that presents a wide range of films that impact filmmaking and our culture. Images continuously seeks to entertain, educate and engage the community with quality programming, while maintaining its dedication to independent film and media. Images Cinema serves organic popcorn, real butter, locally made baked goods and naturally-sweetened sodas, as well as traditional concessions fare. Images Cinema is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Located at 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, Images Cinema can be reached at 413.458.5612 (movie line), 413.458.1039 (office) or by visiting their website at www.imagescinema.org.
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Announcing New ENF and NPC Forms.
The MEPA Office is please to present the new ENF and NPC forms, which reflect input received from MEPA staff, State Agency reviewers, consultants, and environmental organizations that regularly participate in the MEPA process. As of March 9, 2011, the new forms will be available for download on the MEPA Homepage for immediate use. http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/downloads.aspx
Please note that the old forms will no longer be made available. If you have started to prepare an ENF or NPC using the old forms, they will be accepted for review for a limited time. The new forms incorporate questions that will be included in the electronic forms that will be introduced later this year, so it is strongly encouraged that all project proponents start using the new forms as soon as practicable.
In response to numerous inquiries regarding submission of MEPA documents on CDs in lieu of hard-copy documents, the MEPA Office is exploring updates to the MEPA regulations that will allow this. The MEPA Office already allows partial distribution via CD or electronic format where permission has been sought in advance from the MEPA Office. Please bear in mind, however, that a number of hard-copy versions of these documents should always be made available for members of the general public who do not own or have easy access to computers. While the MEPA Office has been receptive to the inclusion of technical appendices on CDs rather than hard-copy documents, it remains the case that hard copies must be provided to the MEPA Office and State Agency reviewers. However, in addition to those hard copies, we strongly encourage the submission of entire documents to this office on CD as well in order to facilitate their future inclusion in our electronic files.
When in doubt about the requirements for format and circulation of MEPA documents, please contact me.
Rick Bourré
Assistant Director - MEPA
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street - 9th floor
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1130
(617) 626-1181 (fax)
richard.bourre@state.ma.us
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Maine Town Passes Landmark Local Food Ordinance
Sedgwick becomes first town in Maine to adopt protections
SEDGWICK, MAINE - On Saturday, March 5, residents of a small coastal town in Maine voted unanimously to adopt the Local Food and Self-Governance Ordinance, setting a precedent for other towns looking to preserve small-scale farming and food processing. Sedgwick, located on the Blue Hill Peninsula in Western Hancock County, became the first town in Maine, and perhaps the nation, to exempt direct farm sales from state and federal licensing and inspection. The ordinance also exempts foods made in the home kitchen, similar to the Michigan Cottage Food Law passed last year, but without caps on gross sales or restrictions on types of exempt foods.
Local farmer Bob St.Peter noted the importance of this ordinance for beginning farmers and cottage producers. "This ordinance creates favorable conditions for beginning farmers and cottage-scale food processors to try out new products, and to make the most of each season's bounty," said St.Peter. "My family is already working on some ideas we can do from home to help pay the bills and get our farm going."
Mia Strong, Sedgwick resident and local farm patron, was overwhelmed by the support of her town. "Tears of joy welled in my eyes as my town voted to adopt this ordinance," said Strong. "I am so proud of my community. They made a stand for local food and our fundamental rights as citizens to choose that food."
St.Peter, who serves on the board of the National Family Farm Coalition based in Washington, DC, sees this as a model ordinance for economic development in rural areas. "It's tough making a go of it in rural America," said St.Peter. "Rural working people have always had to do a little of this and a little of that to make ends meet. But up until the last couple generations, we didn't need a special license or new facility each time we wanted to sell something to our neighbors. Small farmers and producers have been getting squeezed out in the name of food safety, yet it's the industrial food that is causing food borne illness, not us."
"And every food dollar that leaves our community is one more dollar we don't have to pay for our rural schools or to provide decent care for our elders," adds St.Peter. "We need the money more than corporate agribusiness."
Three other towns in Western Hancock County will be voting on the ordinance at or ahead of their town meetings in the coming weeks. Penobscot, Brooksville, and Blue Hill all have the ordinance on their warrants.
Click here to view a copy of the Local Food and Self-Governance Ordinance of 2011.
Contact:
Bob St.Peter
Saving Seeds Farm
Sedgwick, Maine
207-244-0908
bobstpeter@gmail.com
Mia Strong
Local Stock Food Cooperative
Sedgwick, Maine
207-359-8572
meezermia@gmail.com
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Exciting changes that are about to happen to CET's names and logos in the coming weeks.
To make our name a bit easier to remember, we’re shortening it to Center for EcoTechnology. We’re adding a tagline - We make green make sense - to let people know how we can help them. We also updated our logo so we could connect it better with EcoBuilding Bargains, our used building materials store.
The Center for EcoTechnology still has the same great people, same great mission and all the programs and services you know and depend on. We can help you carry out your daily activities with less environmental impact.
At our ReStore, you find eco friendly used and surplus building materials at bargain prices - so we changed our name to EcoBuilding Bargains. We added a tagline too - Recycled stuff from floors to doors.
These changes will help people get a better sense of what we have to offer. We also updated our logo to connect it with the Center for EcoTechnology.
EcoBuilding Bargains still has the same great people, same great mission and same great prices. We’re a treasure chest of good deals on everyday items, as well as hard-to-find unique, vintage and green products. Our deconstruction service is a green alternative to demolition.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these changes. And thanks for everything you do for us and our community, economy and environment!
Sincerely,
John Majercak
Executive Director
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DCR Draft Volunteer Policy for Public Review
Here is a letter (pdf) from Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Edward M. Lambert Jr. announcing the release of DCR’s new draft Volunteer Policy (pdf) for public review and comment.
We encourage all volunteers, supporters and other friends of the Massachusetts State Park System to review this policy and offer comments.
Thanks.
Paul Jahnige
Director Greenways and Trails Program
Department of Conservation and Recreation
136 Damon Rd
Northampton, MA 01060
413-586-8706 ext. 20
paul.jahnige@state.ma.us
DCR Greenways
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EPA Submits for Public Comment the Next Round of Safe Drinking Water Act Contaminant Monitoring
WASHINGTON – As part of its commitment to implement sensible protections of drinking water for communities across the country, and as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing 30 currently unregulated contaminants for monitoring in water systems, and submitting this proposal for public comment. The comment period will allow the public and other stakeholders to provide input on the selection of new contaminants for monitoring, and will help determine the best path forward as the EPA seeks to collect data that will inform future decisions about how best to protect drinking water.
“Ensuring clean and safe drinking water for all Americans is a top priority for EPA,” said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “In keeping with the Safe Drinking Water Act, we are submitting for public comment and input our proposed next round of currently unregulated contaminants for monitoring. Learning more about the prevalence of these contaminants will allow EPA to better protect people’s health.”
Under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA currently regulates more than 90 contaminants in drinking water. To keep drinking water standards up-to-date with emerging science, the Safe Drinking Water Act requires that EPA identify up to 30 unregulated contaminants for monitoring every five years. This current proposal is the third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation and includes requirements to monitor for two viruses and 28 chemical contaminants that could be present in drinking water and do not currently have health-based standards.
EPA is requesting public comment on the proposed list of 30 contaminants until May 2, 2011. Following the public comment period, EPA will consider this important input before the list is scheduled to be finalized in 2012, with sampling to be conducted from 2013 to 2015. Sampling will take place at all systems serving more than 10,000 people and at a representative sampling of systems serving less than 10,000 people.
More information about the proposed list of contaminants:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/index.cfm.
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Designing with Nature
Compost BMP Design Webinar for Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development
Learning Objectives
- Understanding current stormwater management issues
- Principles of low impact development and green infrastructure
- Introduction to design manual, specifications, and 24 compost-based BMPs
- Concepts for truly sustainable BMPs
- Case studies in LEED green building and MS4 permit compliance applications
April 7, 2011 at 2pm EST & April 12, 2011 at 1pm EST
Brought to you by Forester University
Presenter: Britt Faucette, PhD, LEED AP, CPESC
Register for the Webinar Online - Click Here.
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CITIZEN SCIENTISTS NEEDED TO IDENTIFY TURTLE CROSSINGS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Turtles have existed for millions of years, but roadways are threatening the survival of local populations. Turtles in Massachusetts often cross roadways late spring to early fall and are vulnerable to car collisions. Ambitious citizen scientists, turtle enthusiasts, and conservation organizations are encouraged to join state wildlife and transportation personnel in collecting data for a Turtle Roadway Mortality Monitoring Program. Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife, a recent partnership between the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW), Department of Transportation (DOT) Highway Division and UMass-Amherst, trained volunteers to collect data in 2010 and is expanding its volunteer program by offering two citizen scientist information and training sessions in Amherst and Westborough. These sessions are designed to train new volunteers, acknowledge current volunteer efforts, and share results from the first year of data collection. The information gathered thorough this volunteer effort will be used to coordinate local turtle conservation efforts.
We welcome everyone to attend one of our two training sessions. The first information and training session will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011, from 10am – 12pm at the Notch Visitor’s Center located at 1500 West Street in Amherst. The second session will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, from 7pm – 9pm at the Karl Weiss Educational Conference Building located on North Drive in Westborough. This facility is on the same property as the DFW Field Headquarters. The sessions are free, but pre-registration is required. Interested volunteers can register with DFW’s Dave Paulson at david.paulson@state.ma.us or call him at (508) 389-6366.
Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife is a long-term and multifaceted effort to minimize the impact of the existing road network on wildlife, while improving highway safety. Linking Landscapes offers three Massachusetts citizen science research efforts that allows online reporting of site specific wildlife roadway mortality through a Google Maps interface. For more information on Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife, go to: http://linkinglandscapes.info/roads/home.html.
BEAT Note: We have asked if they would hold a training in the Berkshires as well.
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Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program
Western Mass Electric Company (WMECO) is pleased to announce that is now accepting applications for its Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot program until April 1, 2011. Homeowners and contractors planning to partner on specific major renovation projects seeking 50% or greater energy savings are invited to apply. All projects must complete within one year of being accepted into the pilot program. Incentives of up to $42,000 may be available, and typical projects will receive between $20,000 and $30,000. WMECO currently anticipates that two projects will be accepted into the pilot this year. Please contact Megan McDonough at the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) to get an application -
meganm@cetonline.org or 413-586-7350 ext. 221.
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Berkshire Conservation District Annual Seedling Sale now in progress!
Though it may still be winter, it's not too early to start planning your spring planting. A wide variety of affordable tree seedlings, flowering shrubs, and edibles can be ordered now during the Berkshire Conservation District's Annual Seedling Sale. Prepaid orders will be taken until March 18th for pickup on April 29th and/or 30th at one of three Berkshire County locations; Lakeview Orchard in Lanesboro, 2 Andes Rd. in Peru, or Monument Mt HS Greenhouse in Great Barrington.
The deadline to order is roughly two weeks away. However, because we are located in a federal building, if the government shuts down on 3/18 we will not be able to get in the building to work or process your orders. So, I am asking you to get your orders in by early next week, just in case!
Most plants offered are native, beneficial to wildlife and able to survive the tough Berkshire winters. New this year is the Herbert Azalea, Lemon Princess Spirea and Pagoda Dogwood to name a few. Home gardeners will also be interested to know we offer fruit trees and such plants as asparagus, strawberries and blueberries.
View pictures of the plants available for sale, print out a brochure, or place your orders online at www.berkshireconservation.org. For more information, request a brochure, or to volunteer to help with the plant sale call the Berkshire Conservation District at 413/443-1776 X102 or email deborah.burke@ma.usda.gov.
The Berkshire Conservation District is a voice for our local community, providing leadership on conservation issues and establishing priorities for conservation projects. Conservation Districts partner with state and federal agencies to deliver needed programs, education and technical assistance to landowners. The District is governed by a board of locally elected citizens who volunteer their time and leadership. The District, which does not receive any government funding, relies on fundraising activities like the seedling sale in order to offer its many programs.
Deb Burke
District Administrator
Berkshire Conservation District
78 Center St. Suite 206
Pittsfield, MA 01201
www.berkshireconservation.org
413-443-1776 X102
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Where is PVC hiding in your child's school?
With the start of the spring semester underway, Center for Health, Environment, & Justice (CHEJ) is excited to take this new beginning and make it a fresh and healthy one using This Vinyl School- an interactive website that educates and empowers parents, teachers, and students to phase out toxic PVC plastic from America’s schools.
Visit This Vinyl School and find out where in our schools PVC –the poison plastic- is hiding and how we can transition to safe alternatives.
Check it out, here: http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool/
PVC, a.k.a. vinyl, is a plastic that releases harmful chemicals associated with asthma, obesity, and learning and developmental disabilities. PVC is found everywhere in schools from carpeting and roofing, to binders and ven playground equipment. As cases of PVC-linked health conditions keep increasing, it’s become more important than ever to phase out this poison plastic.
Empower your action by visiting CHEJ’s list of the Top Ten Ways To Take Action For Safe PVC-Free Schools. Whether it’s PVC-free facts sheets to help educate your neighbors or details on campaign donation opportunities, we’ve got you covered, here.
Go green and go PVC-free!
Yours for a toxic-free future,
Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
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Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Testimony Before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
As prepared for delivery.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for inviting me to testify about President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Congress enacted the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and America’s other bedrock environmental protection laws on a broadly bipartisan basis. It did so to protect American children and adults from pollution that otherwise would make their lives shorter, less healthy, and less prosperous. It did so to make the air and drinking water in America’s communities clean enough to attract new employers. It did so to enable America’s local governments to revitalize abandoned and polluted industrial sites. It did so to safeguard the pastime of America’s forty million anglers. It did so to protect the farms whose irrigation makes up a third of America’s surface freshwater withdrawals. And it did so to preserve the livelihoods of fishermen in American great waters such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Congress gave EPA the responsibility of implementing and enforcing those laws. And, each year, Congress appropriates the money that makes EPA’s implementation and enforcement work possible.
As head of the EPA, I am accountable for ensuring that we squeeze every drop of public health protection out of every dollar we are given. So I support the tough cuts in the President’s proposed budget. But, I am equally accountable for pointing out when cuts become detrimental to public health. Without adequate funding, EPA would be unable to implement or enforce the laws that protect Americans’ health, livelihoods, and pastimes. Big polluters would flout legal restrictions on dumping contaminants into the air, into rivers, and onto the ground. Toxic plumes already underground would reach drinking water supplies, because ongoing work to contain them would stop. There would be no EPA grant money to fix or replace broken water treatment systems. And the standards that EPA is set to establish for harmful air pollutants from smokestacks and tailpipes would remain missing from a population of sources that is not static but growing.
So if Congress slashed EPA’s funding, concentrations of harmful pollution would increase from current levels in the places Americans live, work, go to school, fish, hike, and hunt. The result would be more asthma attacks, more missed school and work days, more heart attacks, more cancer cases, more premature deaths, and more polluted waters.
Needless to say, then, I fervently request and deeply appreciate continued bipartisan support in Congress for funding the essential work that keeps American children and adults safe from uncontrolled amounts of harmful pollution being dumped into the water they drink and the air they breathe.
President Obama believes that our federal government must spend less money. Decreasing federal spending is no longer just a prudent choice; it is now an unavoidable necessity. Accordingly, the President has proposed to cut EPA’s annual budget nearly thirteen percent from its current level.
That cut goes beyond eliminating redundancies. We have made difficult, even painful, choices. We have done so, however, in a careful way that preserves EPA’s ability to carry out its core responsibilities to protect the health and wellbeing of America’s children, adults, and communities.
You have been reviewing the budget request for more than two weeks now, so I will not march through all its details. Rather, I will provide just a few examples of the difficult choices we have made while preserving fundamental safeguards.
This request provides 2.5 billion dollars, a decrease of 947 million, for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. Future-year budgets for the SRFs will adjust, taking into account repayments. EPA, the states, and community water systems will build on past successes while working toward the Fiscal Year 2012 goal of ensuring that over 90 percent of the population served by community water systems receives drinking water that meets all applicable health standards.
This budget requests an additional 6.4 million dollars to conduct integrated pilot projects in several communities, including disadvantaged ones, to evaluate and reduce risks from toxic air pollution through regulatory, enforcement, and voluntary efforts. An additional 3.7 million dollars will improve our monitoring of toxic air pollution and our dissemination of that data to state, local and tribal governments, and to the public.
The budget contains 350 million dollars for programs and projects strategically chosen to target the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem. That represents a cut of 125 million dollars from Fiscal Year 2010, which was the first year of the initiative. We will implement the most important projects for Great Lakes Restoration and achieve visible results.
With this budget’s 16 million dollar investment in the Enhancing Chemical Safety Initiative, we will take action to reduce chemical risks, increase the pace of chemical hazard assessments, and provide the public with greater access to information on toxic chemicals. We will use the funds to implement chemical risk reduction steps that address impacts on children’s health and on disadvantaged, low-income, and indigenous populations.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to the Subcommittee’s questions.
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Eastern Cougar Extinct: Mountain Lion Declared Gone From East U.S.
AP/The Huffington Post MICHAEL RUBINKAM First Posted: 03/ 2/11 09:52 AM Updated: 03/ 3/11 12:03 AM
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday declared the eastern cougar to be extinct, confirming a widely held belief among wildlife biologists that native populations of the big cat were wiped out by man a century ago.
After a lengthy review, federal officials concluded there are no breeding populations of cougars – also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions and catamounts – in the eastern United States. Researchers believe the eastern cougar subspecies has probably been extinct since the 1930s. <MORE>
BEAT Note: for more information on cougars in the east see the Cougar Rewildling Foundation and The Cougar Network.
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Job Opening - Director, Conservation Planning, Defenders of Wildlife
Location: Washington, D.C.
Supervisor: Vice President for Conservation Policy
Position Description
Defenders of Wildlife is a leading environmental non-profit organization, dedicated to the protection of endangered species and habitat. In relation to the Director of Conservation Planning position, we seek to create a world where carefully thought-out conservation goals are implemented with targeted and effective strategies and where practitioners are committed to metrics that transparently track performance.
We seek a Director of Conservation Planning who understands the latest developments in conservation and business planning and can implement that knowledge in ways that catalyze dramatically better conservation. The Director of Conservation Planning is responsible for developing and implementing Defenders’ programs to promote effective conservation planning and implementation. In projects across the country, the Director will work closely and build relationships with federal, state, and private land management partners to incorporate new strategies into existing plans such as the State Wildlife Action Plans and Federal Endangered Species Recovery Plans, as well as new climate change adaptation plans. The Director will work closely with scientists and planners as well as land and wildlife management communities to enhance the community of practice. The Director will also oversee a program that provides capacity and support to conservation programs within the organization, including facilitating strategic planning, analyzing spatial data, and presenting related information in novel ways for our advocacy efforts. The Director works closely with Defenders’ policy teams to develop and implement policy initiatives to support on-the-ground conservation programs. A key aspect of the position is assisting states in improving wildlife conservation planning with specific emphasis on developing climate adaptation strategies.
The Director supervises a Conservation Planning Associate as well as the Program Manager for our land trust work (Living Lands) and may supervise an additional 1-2 GIS and spatial analysis personnel. The Director will work closely with the Vice President for Conservation Policy, field offices, and interdisciplinary teams in developing and coordinating strategies, national campaigns, various conservation reports and coalitions. The Director also takes lead responsibility in working with federal and state agencies, Congress, and other non-governmental organizations on program initiatives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- With other Defenders’ staff and outside experts, develop and implement strategic conservation planning initiatives with federal and state partners
- Build internal capacity for strategic conservation planning through facilitation, spatial analysis, and training.
- Represent Defenders on the Conservation Measures Partnership, and enhance our ability to implement the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation
- With other Defenders’ staff and outside organizations, develop and promote model state and federal policies that promote wildlife adaptation to climate change.
- Work with partners on the development and implementation of model endangered species recovery plans and federal planning policies to speed and improve wildlife recovery.
- Maintain effective working relationships with natural and social scientists, agency administrators, members of Congress, Congressional staff, leading NGOs, and members of Defenders’ Board of Directors.
- Develop a network of experts, government officials, NGOs and citizens to assist Defenders in accomplishing its organization-wide objectives.
- Oversee a growing staff capacity for GIS-led planning and the visualization of complex data and satisfy organization-wide needs for such products.
- Research, write, and/or otherwise contribute to the development of various conservation reports, publications, organizational policies, and position statements
- Assist with member and public education efforts on conservation planning issues through Defenders’ Website, Defenders’ Wildlife eNews, magazine, news media, public appearances, and dissemination of educational materials.
- Represent Defenders in coalitions, public meetings, hearings, press events, conferences, and in general communications with public officials, the media, Defenders’ membership, the donor community, and the public.
- Assist Defenders in providing information to members, foundations, and other donors, and help to identify and develop potential sources of funding for Defenders
- Develop short- and long-range operating objectives, organizational structure, and staffing requirements.
- Develop and recommend program budget.
- Recommend, review and approve employment actions, including interviewing, hiring, promotions and raises, in conjunction with Human Resources. Partner with Human Resources in the handling of disciplinary issues.
- Ensure communication of duties and responsibilities to direct reports and monitor performance. Provide regular coaching and counseling. Identify training needs. Prepare and deliver salary and performance reviews; review and approve performance and salary appraisals as necessary.
- Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Education: Advanced degree or equivalent in conservation or business planning, conservation biology, wildlife management, ecology, environmental policy, or related fields.
- Experience:
- 5+ years of experience is required in at least one of the following areas: developing and implementing programs to conserve biodiversity; climate change and natural resource science and policy; conservation planning, facilitation and mediation; organizing campaigns for non-profit organizations; including 2+ years of relevant management/supervisory experience
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
- Other:
- Strong working knowledge of landscape ecology as well as climate change science and policy; conservation biology; landscape-level planning; and laws and regulations for biodiversity conservation
- Strong working knowledge of the use and application of ArcGIS or expertise in Google mapping or other visualization and mapping software
- Demonstrated ability to develop strong partnerships with state and federal agency partners
- Ability to facilitate conservation planning or other strategic planning workshops a plus
- Demonstrated ability to write for both a technical and non-technical audience as well as significant exposure to public speaking with diverse audiences.
How To Apply
Interested applicants please reference Director, Conservation Planning in your subject line and submit a letter of interest, along with your resume and salary history (must be included to be considered) to us via e-mail at: HR@defenders.org
It is the policy of Defenders of Wildlife to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, in all personnel actions.
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Research Fisheries Biologist Position Announced .
Posted: 09 Mar 2011 10:12 AM PST
The Massachusetts Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit Announces a Research Fisheries Biologist Position. This position is within the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, located at UMass – Amherst.
Please see the USAJOBS announcement for more details.
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Gray Dogs Farm is looking for one or two summer interns. Working with most aspects of diversified animal and herb farming. We are a small animal, permaculture and holistic management oriented hill town farm. Position available April first.
Working Partners.
We are also looking for working farm partners that would like to make a living from the farm. We are looking for an individual or, preferably a couple, who would step in and work with us, takeing over the enterprises we have started: layers, broilers, Turkeys, and until recently sheep; and bring their own ideas. We have most of the infrastructure in place. We can work out a “hired help” arrangement if necessary.
Contact Ross (413.210.3739) or Alicia (413.320.8860) Hackerson or
graydogsfarm@comcast.net
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EPA Accepting Applications for Environmental Education Grant Funding
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for $1.9 million in funding for environmental education projects and programs. The purpose of the grants is to promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and citizens. EPA expects to award at least 20 grants nationwide ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $100,000 and will accept applications until May 2, 2011.
The grants provide financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. Projects should involve environmental education activities that go beyond disseminating information.
EPA will be hosting two conference calls for potential applicants interested in additional information about the application process. The conference calls will take place on March 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and April 6 at 2 p.m. (EDT). To participate in the conference calls, dial: 1-866-379-5082, and use conference ID number: 48699133 for the call on March 21. Use conference ID number: 48696117 for the call on April 6.
The Environmental Education Grant Program provides funding to local education agencies, state education or environmental agencies, colleges or universities, not-for-profit organizations, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entities. Tribal education agencies, which are controlled by an Indian tribe, band or nation, may also apply, including a school or community college.
Since the program began, EPA has provided more than $50 million in funding to more than 3,000 agencies and organizations.
More information on eligibility and application materials:
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.
View all news releases related to grants
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2012 Skoll Awards Selection Process Now Open
We are pleased to announce that our application is now posted for the 2012 Awards. The application deadline for the 2012 Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship is Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
The Skoll Foundation invests in, connects and celebrates the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship is our flagship grantmaking program. We are looking for social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale behavior, policy or infrastructure change in the areas of tolerance and human rights, health, environmental sustainability, peace and security, institutional responsibility, and economic and social equity. Skoll Award recipients typically exhibit many of the following characteristics:
- Led by a visionary, effective social entrepreneur serving as a spokesperson for their issue
- Strong leadership team and board
- Clear mission and implementation model
- Unwavering focus on mission
- Well-established strong partnerships
- Commitment to systems, including for measurement and learning
- Diversified and mission-aligned funding sources
- Target audience at center of solution
- Deep understanding of issue
This is an open application process; however, the selection process is highly competitive, with fewer than ten Awards anticipated for 2012. To apply you must complete an eligibility quiz, a tool designed to help you determine if you meet the basic criteria for the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship, and complete an online application. To learn more about our criteria and process, please visit www.skollfoundation.org/about/skoll-awards/.
Sincerely,
The Skoll Foundation Program Team
Skoll Foundation | 250 University Ave., Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | www.skollfoundation.org
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