2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 54

Robert D. Brown, Texas A&M University, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 210 Nagle Hall, College Station, TX 77843-2258; 409.845.1261; rdbrown@tamu.edu

Natural resources are becoming increasingly important, both as threats and as opportunities, to landowners in Texas, the Southwest, and the U.S. County Extension Agents (CEA) and Family and Consumer Science Agents (FCS), with college degrees in traditional agricultural fields, are ill-equipped to help their clientele deal with regulatory issues (ESA, CWA, etc.), or to help them diversify their income through utilization of natural resources (hunting and fishing leases, birding trails, timber, bed-and-breakfasts). These needs became apparent in Texas in 1994, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced possible listing of 33 Texas counties as critical habitat for the Golden Cheeked Warbler, and agents were not prepared to deal with the subsequent resource management and political implications. Likewise, with the loss of the Wool and Mohair Act in 1996, landowners were faced with declining income from traditional sources, and agents requested help from natural resource Extension Specialists. In 1997 we developed a 1-year course to train CEAs and FCS agents in natural resources management, regulations, conflict resolution, and resource decision making through a series of three 2-day workshops held in different ecological regions of the state (Coastal Plains, Hill Country, Piney Woods). The syllabus was developed by the Extension Specialists of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, with the help of an advisory board including District Extension Directors and County Agents. Twenty agents enrolled. The participants were interviewed via phone prior to the course in groups to determine the natural resource issues in their counties, their educational needs, and their expectations. The overall syllabus was thus modified, and the 3 workshops were held at the Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge in Sinton in April, the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in July, and Temple-Inland's Scrappin' Valley facility in October. Nearly 30 instructors for the course were drawn from a pool of Extension Specialists, and personnel of the USFWS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, USDA-Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), Texas Forest Service, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, and the Nature Conservancy. At each workshop, agents heard of the structure and function of state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations. They toured ranches, timberland, environmentally-friendly housing developments, and sea ports. Topics included management of wildlife, rangeland, and timber resources, as well as youth programs, interactive techniques, conflict resolution, and land-use decision making. Each participant developed a County Action Plan to incorporate natural resources extension programming in his/her county. The plans were presented in written and oral form at the final workshop. The $12,000 cost of the course was provided by grants from the USDA-CSREES, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Renewable Resources Extension Act, and the Welder Wildlife Refuge. Sixteen agents graduated from the course; all evaluations were positive. Based on input from the 1997 students, the course has been expanded into a 2-year program for 1998-99, with 4 workshops over the 2 years. An additional workshop was added in West Texas, with additional information on water issues and water law. The overlapping1999-2000 and 2000-2001 courses have 31 participants.