Partners & Participating Organizations
NCER Primary Partners
NCER is organized as a collaborative effort by a diverse
group of institutions, and the ongoing support by these
primary partners helps sustain the NCER Conference mission.
This partnership enables us to provide an outstanding forum
for speaker and poster presentations, along with meeting
facilities, technological support, networking functions, and
reference materials for all participants. It is through the
continued involvement of these primary partners the
University of Florida is able to organize NCER as a
bi-annual event.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS)
Since
1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally
called the Soil Conservation Service) has provided
leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private
land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and
other natural resources. NRCS employees provide technical
assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's
specific needs. We provide financial assistance for many
conservation activities. Participation in our programs is
voluntary.
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Our Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program
provides voluntary conservation technical assistance to
land-users, communities, units of state and local
government, and other Federal agencies in planning and
implementing conservation systems.
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We reach out to all segments of the agricultural
community, including underserved and socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, to ensure that our
programs and services are accessible to everyone.
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We manage natural resource conservation programs that
provide environmental, societal, financial, and
technical benefits.
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Our science and technology activities provide technical
expertise in such areas as animal husbandry and clean
water, ecological sciences, engineering, resource
economics, and social sciences.
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We provide expertise in soil science and leadership for
soil surveys and for the National Resources Inventory,
which assesses natural resource conditions and trends in
the United States.
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We provide technical assistance to foreign governments,
and participate in international scientific and
technical exchanges.
NRCS CONTACT: Philip Barbour, Wildlife
Biologist, USDA NRCS, Ecological Sciences Division, 7578 Old Canton Road, Madison, Mississippi 39110;
PHONE: (601) 607-3131; EMAIL:
philip.barbour@ms.usda.gov; Web Site:
www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov
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US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
The
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is made up of
approximately 34,600 Civilian and 650 military members. Our
military and civilian engineers, scientists and other
specialists work hand in hand as leaders in engineering and
environmental matters. Our diverse workforce of biologists,
engineers, geologists, hydrologists, natural resource
managers and other professionals meets the demands of
changing times and requirements as a vital part of America's
Army.
Our mission is to provide quality, responsive engineering
services to the nation including:
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(Planning, designing, building and operating water
resources and other civil works projects (Navigation,
Flood Control, Environmental Protection Disaster
Response, etc.)
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Designing and managing the construction of military
facilities for the Army and Air Force. (Military
Construction)
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Providing design and construction management support for
other Defense and federal agencies. (Interagency and
International Services)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental mission has
two major focus areas: restoration and stewardship. Efforts
in both areas are guided by the Corps environmental
operating principles, which help us balance economic and
environmental concerns.
The Corps supports or manages numerous environmental
programs, that run the gamut from cleaning up areas on
former military installations contaminated by hazardous
waste or munitions to helping establish a small wetland that
helps endangered species survive. Some of these programs
include: Ecosystem Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites,
Environmental Stewardship, EPA Superfund, Abandoned Mine
Lands, Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, Base
Realignment and Closure 2005.
USACE CONTACT: Dave Koran, US Army Corps of
Engineers, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20314; PH
202-761-0076;
EMAIL:
david.koran@usace.army.mil; Web Site:
www.usace.army.mil
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US
Geological Survey (USGS)
The
US Geological Survey serves the Nation by providing reliable
scientific information to describe and understand the Earth;
minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters;
manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and
enhance and protect our quality of life.
The USGS employs the best and the brightest experts who
bring a range of earth and life science disciplines to bear
on problems. By integrating our diverse scientific
expertise, the USGS is able to understand complex natural
science phenomena and provide scientific products that lead
to solutions. Every day the 10,000 scientists, technicians,
and support staff of the USGS are working for you in more
than 400 locations throughout the United States.
As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science
and civilian mapping agency, the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific
understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and
problems. The diversity of our scientific expertise enables
us to carry out large-scale, multi-impartial scientific
information to resource managers, planners, and other
customers.
USGS CONTACT: Dr. G. Ronnie Best, Coordinator,
Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science, US, c/o
University of Florida/IFAS, Fort Lauderdale Research and
Education Center, 3205 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL
33314-7799; PH:954-577-6354; EMAIL:
Ronnie_Best@usgs.gov; WEB SITE:
www.usgs.gov
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University of Florida / Institute of Food & Agricultural
Sciences
— Soil and
Water Science Department (UF/IFAS SWSD)
Soil
and Water are vital resources in urban, agricultural, and
natural ecosystems. The Soil and Water Science Department
(SWSD) provides highly visible leadership in teaching,
research, and extension / outreach programs as related to
improving the productivity of agriculture with
environmentally sound management practices, improving water
quality, and protection and conservation of natural
resources. Our department is one of the few in the nation
that offers a comprehensive research and educational
programs (molecular to landscape level) involving
terrestrial, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems of the
landscape. In addition to traditional on-campus educational
programs, we use innovative e-technologies to offer
educational programs to place-bound students. Our graduates
and postdoctoral fellows are well placed at universities,
state and federal agencies, and private industry.
The SWSD programs are designed to meet the changing needs of
our clientele at state, national and international levels.
To meet new challenges and explore new opportunities, the
SWSD’s research, teaching, and extension programs are
focused in five areas, with broader implication to water
quality, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gases, and climate
change:
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Management of Nutrients, Pesticides, and Wastes
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Remediation of Contaminated Soils, Waters, and Aquifers
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Soil Quality/Ecosystem Services
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Soil/Landscape Analysis
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Wetlands and Aquatic Systems
SWSD programs are supported by a number sponsors including
state and federal agencies, and private industry. We extend
our sincere thanks to funding agencies, sponsors, and
students, who help us to maintain high quality research,
teaching, and extension programs.
UF/IFAS SWSD CONTACT: Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy,
Chair, University of Florida/IFAS, Soil & Water Science
Department, PO Box 110510, Gainesville, FL 32611;
PH:352-392-1804, ext 317; EMAIL:
krr@ufl.edu; Web Site:
www.soils.ifas.ufl.edu
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