1	The Tropical Natural Resources Technology Consortium: Working Together for Tropical Conservation Michael Robotham Tropical Technology Specialist USDA-NRCS / UH-Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii USA Co-authors: Edwin Mas, John Lawrence, Hari Eswaran
2	Overview of presentation Development and implementation Vision and mission Objectives Structure and linkages Completed and ongoing activities Challenges and opportunities
3	Consortium formation – Why? Resource degradation in US-affiliated tropics Existing temperate-zone, US-mainland technology often not appropriate Significant physical (e.g. temperature, rainfall intensity, soils, slopes) and socio-cultural differences NRCS technology development infrastructure historically focused on temperate zone and mainland environments No malice – focus on areas with broadest application
4	Consortium formation – Who? NRCS State/Area offices in Florida, Hawaii, Caribbean Basin (Puerto Rico and USVI) and Pacific Basin (Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia) With the concurrence of NRCS regional and national offices Land Grant Universities: University of Florida, University of Guam, University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
5	Consortium formation – How? Long iterative discussion process (nearly 10 years) between universities and NRCS Strong support from specific individuals both within and outside of the agency Increased recognition of tropical needs by wider NRCS and of tropical conservation needs by universities Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, 2000
6	Vision and Mission Vision: Sustainable tropical land use based on sound science Mission: To help people in tropical regions to enhance and maintain the quality of their natural resources Guiding principles: Disseminate scientific information that fosters the practice and policy of sustainable resource mgmt. Collaborate with national and international partners
7	Objectives Provide conservation-related information and technology to NRCS and other agency field personnel working in the US affiliated tropics Collect, analyze and transfer tropical conservation information Train resource professionals Strengthen institutions and human resources within and outside of the consortium
8	Structure Full time staff of two (three in FY2005) Tropical Technology Specialists located in Hawaii, Puerto Rico (and Guam). NRCS provides salary and benefits; universities provide space and office support Overall direction provided by administrative group of senior NRCS and University officials Larger technical advisory group from all organizations provides input and support
9	Linkages
10	Activities Evaluation of existing NRCS tools and technologies for use in the tropics Development of new tools and resources to address conservation needs Development of standards and specifications for tropical conservation mgmt practices Assessment of the efficacy of tropical conservation practices
11	WIN-PST Evaluation Objective Determine whether Hawaii NRCS should adopt the Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST) to assess pesticide leaching risk for Conservation Planning
12	Riparian restoration plant database Objective Develop a database tool for use by NRCS field staff and other professionals to identify appropriate native species for use in riparian restoration and revegetation projects Cooperator: Bishop Museum
13	Interim tropical agroforest management standard Objective Develop interim conservation practice standard to cover widely-used agroforestry practices that have been determined to conserve soil resources if applied appropriately
14	Media Luna evaluation Objective Determine if the media luna planting method for coffee results in less sediment, nutrient and chemical runoff than traditional planting practices
15	Challenges Coordination across Consortium area Balance between location-specific and broadly applicable activities “Getting the word out” Obtaining steady funding for project activities “Changing of the guard”
16	Opportunities Increased cooperation within universities Initial ties with Colleges of Agriculture, increasing interest from other departments (planning, botany, conservation biology) Increased cooperation with other government and non-government agencies/organizations Within the US International partnerships
17	For more information Web page: http://www.ttc.nrcs.usda.gov Michael Robotham, TTS, Hawaii Michael.Robotham@hi.usda.gov Edwin Mas, TTS, Puerto Rico emas@uprm.edu John “Bart” Lawrence, acting TTS, Guam John.Lawrence@pb.usda.gov
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