Gainesville, FL., April 12, 2012 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 15-21 by honoring Earth Team volunteers in Florida and expressing appreciation for their dedicated service and commitment to conservation. The Earth Team is NRCS’ volunteer workforce. Nationally, in fiscal year 2011, 22,000 Earth Team volunteers donated 435,653 hours of service totaling $9.3 million. NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez said Earth Team volunteers are making an environmental impact in Florida.
Last year, 237 volunteers donated 9,899 hours in Florida.
“That’s worth over *$211,000 in benefit to our customers and savings to the taxpayers,” said Suarez. “These are impressive numbers and we are grateful for the help, but also recognize that more conservation work needs to be done.”
Created in 1985, the Earth Team program offers many opportunities to individuals over the age of 14 interested in helping improve the Nation’s natural resources. Earth Team volunteers help NRCS conservationists provide private landowners, and others, with a range of services from conservation technical assistance to teaching, and generating awareness about conservation. Over a half-million Earth Team volunteers have donated $336 million worth of time helping NRCS with its conservation mission since being formed in 1985.
“The NRCS theme for this year puts it best,” said Suarez. “We are ‘Celebrating Earth Team Volunteers in Action.’ Earth Team volunteers allow us to stretch available resources and help us put additional conservation practices to work. Their volunteer efforts help us improve our land and wildlife habitats, clean our water and air, and help us improve the environment for everyone.”
Suarez said he hopes National Volunteer Week will motivate others to volunteer to help NRCS with our conservation mission. “Earth Team volunteers work closely with our staff. They play an important role in our state’s conservation work and take on a variety of conservation assignments.”
Release No. 092012 Page 2 of 2
Helping People Help the Land
NRCS has offices in almost every county in Florida. If you would like to volunteer and join the Earth Team, contact Darryl Williams, state volunteer coordinator, 850-682-3714, ext. 3. He can give you more information and help you contact your local office.
To learn more about the Earth Team Volunteer Program, go to: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/volunteers.