U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Arlen Lancaster created the first-ever "Two Chiefs' Partnership Award" earlier this year, an award highlighting successful conservation and forest stewardship collaboration between the agencies.

Of the 21 nominations submitted for this award, the partnership of NRCS New Hampshire, the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, UNH Cooperative Extension and U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Durham Field Office, was chosen as one of the best examples in the country of a "true conservation partnership."

New Hampshire ranks second among the states in terms of forest cover, but its NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) leads the nation in allocating resources to address forest land environmental concerns. With executive support from George Cleek, NRCS State Conservationist, Phil Bryce, New Hampshire State Forester, Lew McCreery, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Field Representative and Bob Edmonds, retired Forestry and Wildlife Program Leader for UNH Cooperative Extension, the NH State Technical Committee dedicated over 15 percent of its Fiscal Year 2005 EQIP budget to forest land conservation practices (compared with between one and five percent in most states).

Statewide on-the-ground efforts to protect water and air quality, increase soil productivity, and sustain healthy forest land were led by Jim Spielman, NRCS EQIP program specialist, Karen Bennett, Extension specialist and Roger Monthey of Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry.

Shown in the photo, left to right, during the awards ceremony held at NH Farm and Forest Expo, are George Cleek, John Pike, Phil Bryce, Karen Bennett, Roger Monthey, Jim Spielman and Darrel Covell, accepting on behalf of Bob Edmonds. Photo courtesy of Edith Tucker.