USDA Official Provides Expertise at International Conference

Syracuse, New York, June 10, 2008 — A U.S. Department of Agriculture official served as a panelist at the Global Katoomba Conference, an international conference on market-based conservation, held at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, June 9-10.

Its international website describes the Global Katoomba Conference as an annual meeting held by the Katoomba Group, an international working group composed of leading experts from forest and energy industries, research institutions, the financial world, and environmental Non-Government Organizations dedicated to advancing markets for some of the ecosystem services provided by forests – such as watershed protection, biodiversity habitat, and carbon storage.

Richard Coombe, Regional Assistant Chief for Natural Resources Conservation Service’s East Region, shared his expertise as a member of the team that worked to revitalize the New York City Watershed several years ago. As the Founding Chair and CEO of the Watershed Agricultural Council, Inc., from 1993 – 2003, Coombe was instrumental in implementing a comprehensive planning approach to watershed protection in the 1.2 million acre New York City Watershed, a vital water source for over 9 million residents.

The New York City Watershed served as the perfect example, as a prototype for effective water quality trading, because it demonstrates effectively how local voluntary efforts can solve environmental problems.

Much of the conference focused on the potential for market-based conservation in the 64,000-square mile Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which covers parts of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

This year’s Global Katoomba Conference focused on the current scope and potential of ecosystem markets – carbon, water and bio-diversity – to address environmental concerns. Conference participants’ goals were to develop strategies to solve the urgent environmental issues faced by the world today. More than 600 individuals and groups from around the world participated in this important event.

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