2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 23

Peter Smallidge, Tom Brown, Nancy Connelly, Gary Goff, Clifford Kraft, Marianne Krasny, Rebecca Schneider, and Lewis Staats, Dept of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

The Cooperative Extension System has an educational infrastructure that provides both an opportunity and obligation to respond to situations that threaten the health and well-being of citizens, communities, and natural resources. Responsiveness depends, in part, on the relationship between campus and county staff, an awareness of stakeholder issues and needs, timely and targeted extension programs, and the ability to identify research needs and integrate research results into extension programs. In January 1998, six counties in northern New York received several inches of freezing rain and ice during a regional winter storm. The ice storm collapsed the electric power system of the region and damaged 4.5 million acres of forestland in the state. The 6 northern counties were designated federal disaster areas. The objective of this presentation is to describe how Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) responded to natural resource needs especially through an integrated research and extension program.

County offices of CCE responded to immediate needs with information on health related issues and through collaboration with governmental agencies. Maple syrup producers also sought immediate assistance with the approaching syrup season and damage to both sugar bushes and sap collection systems. Other immediate needs included skill in the safe use of chain saws, awareness of forest health considerations, and assessing the need for timber salvage operations. County staff provided assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm, with campus staff providing management guidelines within several days of the storm. Longer term needs were jointly addressed through the campus-county network and included adjustments to forest management plans, timber salvage, sugar bush management, human dimension assessment of educational needs and federal cost share programs, and alternative revenue options such as agroforestry. Campus and county staff shared resources and ideas to resolve issues.

Four aspects characterize the CCE response. (1) Immediate response with existing resource materials to address human health and safety issues. (2) Communication between campus and county staff to assess short-term issues and provide access to readily available educational materials. (3) Communication among campus and county staff of research needs of natural resource stakeholders and strategies to use extension programs to meet current needs. (4) Delivering extension programs based on current knowledge and planning extension programs to incorporate new knowledge that provides interaction among researchers, county staff, and multiple audiences. An integrated research and extension response was possible because of input from county staff and their stakeholders to campus faculty and staff on relevant issues. Several county-originated projects spawned current research projects with feedback designed for county agents, stakeholders, and other natural resource professionals.

The successes associated with these efforts resulted from strong existing relationships between campus and county staff; effective communication on stakeholder needs and extension opportunities; immediate access to university, state, and federal funding; and networking with agencies throughout the state and region.