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National Ecosystem Based Assistance Team
Staffing Report
Indianapolis, Indiana
February 14-16, 1995
Table of Contents
Introduction
Resource Concerns/Expertise and Attributes/Skills Needed
List of Attributes/Skills Needed to Provide EBA
Manager's Guide to Selection of Skills/Disciplines for EBA
Manager's Matrix for Selecting Needed Disciplines
Introduction
Team Charge:
To describe as specifically as possible the desired skills, knowledge and
abilities of the future Natural Resources Conservation Service field office in
order to carry out ecosystem based assistance on the farm, ranch, watershed, or
other level of detail.
SOME USES OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE TO:
- Design training sessions;
- Develop recruitment efforts;
- Influence college curriculum;
- Set up of new institutes/centers;
- Show others how comprehensive the Natural Resources Conservation Service is;
- Information for National Employment;
- Staffing;
- Help managers develop key job/skill needs.
TEAM GOAL:
To identify skills that Natural Resources Conservation Service field
employees need to provide ecosystem based assistance.
The second part of the team goal was to develop a process for managers to
use in determining skills needed to solve specific resource concerns. A model
for this process follows on pages 16-18.
The team realizes that improvements can and will be made since we had only a
few hours to get it to this point. A tremendous "Thank you" is given
to the ES&P staff at the West National Technical Center for the initial work
on the proposal.
TEAM COMMENTS:
As the team completed its deliberations the following general comments were
summarized of previous discussions that are not included elsewhere in the
report, but were deemed important:
- More interdisciplinary teamwork must be practiced in the future.
- It is important that we work at local, state, regional and national levels
to partner with others as a way of getting help from them (and for us to help
them with their objectives).
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service needs new skills/attributes at
levels higher than awareness.
- We need to consider an internal skills assessment system to insure quality
and we need to know individual skills in order to mesh with the matrix concept
found later in this report.
After considerable "storming" the team decided to use the SWAPA+H
model as the logical way to discuss and list expertise needs.
Resource: Soil
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes* |
CLASSIFICATION/DATABASE |
Soil morphology Soil correlation Classification Soil
mapping Geology/geomorphological properties |
Soil taxonomist, geomorphologist, soil classifier, geologist,
cartographer, digitizer, GIS specialist, soil scientist |
SOIL BIOLOGY |
Pests/diseases/plants Soil microbiology Soil organisms
(earthworms, etc.) |
Biologist, entomologist, botanist, range specialist,
agronomist, nematologist, soil microbiologist |
CHEMISTRY |
Soil chemistry (nutrients and contaminants) Bio-chemical
properties Fertility Soil Pollution Chemical movement Chemical
breakdown process Soil toxicity |
Biochemist, geologist, nutrient specialist, pest specialist,
chemist, soil specialist, agronomist, ecologist, hydrologist |
SOIL INTERPRETATIONS |
Basic soil services Riparian
Forestland Cropland Productivity Hydric soils Plant/animal
impacts Urbanland Rangeland Soil composition (organic matter) On
site disposal Field soil property identification |
Soil scientist, soil chemist, forester, range specialist,
urban conservationist, resource conservationist, agronomist, landscape
architect, agricultural engineer, environmental engineer, botanist, soil
mechanics engineer, ecologist |
SOIL PHYSICS (Water) |
Soil as a filter (pesticides) Hydrology (hydraulic
properties) Leaching Structure Soils drainage |
Water quality specialist, pest management specialist,
bio-chemist, geologist, hydrologist, soil physicist, drainage engineer, soil
mechanics engineer |
SOIL PHYSICS (Erosion Characteristics) |
Soil strength Erosion process Erosion prediction Soil
sustainability Soil health Erosion control |
Microbiologist, soil scientist, resource conservationist,
agricultural engineer, soil mechanics engineer |
*Attribute: The skill, quality, trait or discipline required to
insure adequate ecosystem based assistance.
|
Resource: Water
Water Quantity
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes |
PREDICTION ASSESSMENT |
Water availability/quantity/supply
Hydrology/water cycle (water budget) Quantity Surface runoff
prediction Groundwater resource prediction (aquifer) |
Hydrologist, hydro-geologist, water quality
specialist, meteorologist/climatologist, GIS specialist |
WATER MANAGEMENT |
Drainage Flooding/flood planning
Stream flow analysis Irrigation/water management/scheduling
Hydraulics/inadequate outlet Groundwater movement/subsurface flow analysis
Recreation Regulations governing use
Water erosion control/urban erosion |
Hydrologist, agricultural engineer, civil
engineer, irrigation specialist, agronomist, recreation specialist, erosion
control specialist, chemist |
WATER QUALITY |
Quality drinking water Recreation Salinity Pesticides
High nitrates Waste treatment/restoration
Turbidity
Nutrient enrichment/organics Soil/water relationships Soil/water
relationships Nonpoint source pollution (controlling/ eliminating)
Water/animal relationships
Chemistry related to planned use Sediment/transport Monitoring
Pollutants in ecosystems Groundwater quality High sodium Abandoned
wells/groundwater pollution/well head protection/groundwater quality |
Interdisciplinary ecologist, water quality
specialist, chemist, pest management specialist, agronomist, nutrient management
specialist, soil scientist, hydrologist, geologist (sedimentation), soil
chemist, environmental engineer, geomorphologist, limnologist, range specialist,
toxicologist, coastal zone specialist, marsh specialist |
ASSESSMENT |
Monitoring Biological assessment (fish,
water plants, biological activity) Aquatic insect ecosystem Chemical
analysis/water quality tests/toxicity/ spills Water quality models |
Environmental specialist, biologist, biochemist,
water ecologist, fisheries biologist, limnologist, entomologist |
AESTHETICS |
Visual resource assessment Recreation |
Recreation specialist, landscape architect,
project manager, landscape ecologist |
Resource: Air
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes |
TRANSPORT OF PARTICULATES |
Dust (tillage/traffic) Dust (wind erosion)
Urban contributing areas Air-borne particles - ag. Smoke management
(prescribed burning) Particulate carrying capacity Wood smoke/chimney
PM-10 (mapping)/locate sources of pollution
Interpret data |
Meteorologist/climatologist, agricultural
engineer, soils specialist, chemist, environmental specialist, agronomist,
agro-forester, forester |
Wind erosion equation Plants for wind
erosion control Erosion mechanism Cultural practices on wind erosion
prone land Wind erosion control on non-ag land |
Agronomist, botanist, soil specialist,
agricultural engineer, forester, plant materials specialist, agro-forester,
windbreak forester, resource conservationist, plant ecologist, meteorologist |
ODOR |
Odors from non-ag sources Odors from
agricultural sources |
Meteorologist, agricultural engineer, animal
scientist, agronomist, environmental engineer, chemist, animal waste specialist |
AIR/PLANT RELATIONSHIPS |
Effects of air on plant growth Benefits of
plants/water Greenhouse effect |
Ecologist, plant physiologist, agronomist,
forester, meteorologist, climatologist, range specialist, botanist |
AIR PHYSICS |
Movement Airshed identification Composition Temperature Air
drainage |
Meteorologist, agronomist, agricultural engineer,
environmental engineer |
AIR CHEMISTRY |
Transport of chemicals Acid rain Agricultural
chemical drift Pesticide application/ag chemicals Pesticide
volatilization |
Environmental engineer, meteorologist, chemist,
agronomist |
LAWS/STANDARDS |
Federal, state, local air quality regulations PM-10 Visual
impacts Poor air quality |
Environmental lawyer, community planner,
recreation specialist, meteorologist, political scientist |
RESOURCE: PLANTS
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes |
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (PHYSIOLOGY) |
Growth characteristics Air/soil relationship |
Botanist, agronomist, plant physiologist,
ecologist, range specialist, forester |
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (PLANT TAXONOMY) |
Identification Identification of endangered
species Wetlands plant identification |
Botanist, plant materials specialist, plant
ecologist, forester, range specialist, aquatic botanist, plant taxonomist |
USES (WATER QUALITY) |
Ability to change chemical pollutants Plants
for lagoon wastewater application Plants for purification of water and soil
Plants for toxic chemical uptake Riparian areas
Buffer areas/filters for streams, wetlands
Filter strips Plants for phosphorus uptake Plants for constructed
wetlands |
Marsh specialist, agronomist, forester,
biologist, biosystems engineer, chemist, interdisciplinary ecologist, grazing
lands ecologist, hydrologist, wetland plant specialist, water quality
specialist, plant materials specialist, range specialist, environmental engineer |
USES (EROSION CONTROL) |
Use for erosion control Conservation tillage Plants
for erosion control Residues Plants for windbreaks |
Agro-forester, agricultural engineer, soil
scientist, agronomist, range specialist, resource conservationist,
interdisciplinary ecologist, forester, plant materials specialist |
USES (WILDLIFE HABITAT) |
Endangered species (wildlife) Habitat
requirements Plants for wildlife habitat improvement Use for wildlife
habitat |
Wildlife biologist, ecologist, botanist, range
specialist, limnologist, plant materials specialist, forester |
FOOD AND FIBER (FORESTRY) |
Forestry plans (planting/harvesting) Forest
management Fire management |
Marketing specialist, botanist, forester,
agronomist, range specialist, financial developer, plant materials specialist,
resource conservationist, fire management specialist |
FOOD AND FIBER (AGRONOMY) |
Crop rotation for pest control Crop rotation Agronomic
principles/practices Agronomic value Sustain world food supply Pesticide
application Nutrient needs Trapping of insects |
Soil specialist, agronomist, toxicologist,
entomologist, weed specialist, rural developer, pest specialist, nutrient
specialist, biologist, botanist, agricultural economist, plant materials
specialist, political scientist |
FOOD AND FIBER (GRAZING LANDS) |
Pasture/hayland/rangeland Rangeland
management Use by animals (livestock/wildlife) Proper management Reseeding
cropland, rangeland and other lands |
Biologist, range conservationist, animal
scientist, agronomist, forester, resource conservationist, plant materials
specialist, grazing land specialist |
FOOD AND FIBER (OTHER CONSIDERATIONS) |
Plants to improve aesthetics Plants for urban
conservation Global warming Greenhouse effect (treatment) Plant
diversity Noise barrier Landscape diversity Natural ecosystems Fuel
productivity Biomass conversion Markets Source of construction
materials Seed production Wetland restoration/enhancement Riparian
areas Wildland management Tourism development Urban planting
(beautification/edge effects) Plants for pharmaceuticals Use as solution
to pollution problems Economic use |
Biologist, environmental engineer, weed
specialist, plant ecologist, plant materials specialist, public affairs
specialist, agronomist, chemist, toxicologist, marketing specialist,
archaeologist, meteorologist, landscape ecologist, biosystems engineer,
hydrologist, wildlife biologist, biochemist, economist, landscape architect,
community planner, range scientist, wetland restoration specialist, riparian
specialist, ecologist, recreation specialist, teacher, anthropologist, resource
conservationist, botanist, forester |
FOOD AND FIBER (PLANT ECOLOGY/ASSESSMENT) |
Plant diversity Landscape diversity Biodiversity Natural
ecosystems Native plants Range conditions Plant functions in the
ecosystem Relationship to other SWAPA+H |
Ecologist, range specialist, botanist, landscape
architect, resource conservationist, recreation specialist, forester, plant
ecologist, agronomist, biologist, plant materials specialist |
FOOD AND FIBER (PLANT MATERIALS) |
Plant materials program Plant testing methods Tolerance
to chemicals Cultural requirements Plants for Wetlands Reserve Program Knowledge
of genetic engineering for plant development New cultivars Plant
materials Adaptation and suitability |
Plant physicist, agronomist, biologist, botanist,
entomologist, forester, landscape architect, pest management specialist, plant
materials specialist, range specialist, agro-forester, resource conservationist |
RESOURCE: ANIMALS
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes |
WILDLIFE |
Habitat characteristics Forage needs Species
identification Stocking rates Carrying capacity Predators management Disease Endangered
species identification Preservation of endangered species Control of
deer Wildlife over-population Climatic requirements Protection of
wildlife and habitat Physiology |
Veterinarian, wildlife biologist,
interdisciplinary biologist, forester, agronomist, range specialist, animal
scientist, entomologist, biologist, botanist, resource conservationist, plant
materials specialist |
DOMESTIC (GENERAL SKILLS) |
Forage feed/budget/requirements Goats for
weed control Stocking rates Grazing lands Animal intake - grazing
management Water |
Agricultural engineer, plant materials specialist
agronomist, resource conservationist, forester, range specialist, animal
scientist, ag educator, biologist, weed specialist, grazing lands specialist |
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY |
Production practices Poultry management Disease Breeds Physiology Economic
use Livestock production Aquaculture |
Range specialist, animal scientist, economist,
resource conservationist, fishery biologist, aquaculture specialist |
WASTE MANAGEMENT |
Animal waste management Economic value of
wastes Methane production Confined livestock Pollution producing
capability Dead animal composting Nutrient management |
Agronomist, biosystem engineer, animal scientist,
nutrient management specialist, agriculture waste management specialist,
agricultural economist, grazing lands specialist, environmental engineer |
ANIMAL ECOLOGY |
Climatic requirements Domestic/wildlife
relationship Biodiversity Place in the food chain Relationship to
other SWAPA+H Assess impact of action on Proper management
domestic/wildlife Quantify populations Effect on Riparian areas Relationship
with EBA - rangeland |
Interdisciplinary ecologist, animal scientist,
forester, wildlife biologist, botanist, agronomist, anthropologist, wildlife
ecologist, range specialist |
RESOURCE: HUMANS
Concern/Expertise |
Attributes |
COMMUNICATION |
Writing Speaking Teaching
skills/techniques Visual expression Cooperation Effective
presentations/instructions skills Training Multi-media - database
manager Terminology Motivation Information Public relations
skills Photography
Information and education - non ag. audiences |
Public affairs specialist, organization manager,
political scientist marketing specialist, community planner, resource planning
specialist, technical writer, editor, creative writer, advertising specialist,
teacher, facilitator, conflict resolution/facilitator, advertising specialist,
public relations specialist, organizational manager, computer specialist |
ECONOMICS |
Cost/benefits - ag. practices Economic
analysis Cost-returns Marketing animal products Fund raising
Putting value on resources Hunting value Budget |
Agricultural economist, economist, marketing
specialist, agronomist, grazing land specialist, biologist, range specialist,
rural development specialist, financial manager, contract specialist |
MANAGEMENT OF EBA PROCESS |
Managing human resources Managing programs |
Human resources specialist, program analyst, EBA
project manager, resource conservationist, management consultant |
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS |
People skills - working with people Conflict
resolution Facilitator Coalition building Negotiating - win/win Problem
solving Consensus building Teambuilding Leadership -
interpersonal skills Skills in partnering |
Communication specialist, facilitator,
interpersonal skills specialist, conflict management specialist, sociologist,
psychologist, marketing specialist, CRM specialist, community planner, public
affairs specialist, anthropologist |
LEGISLATIVE/POLITICAL |
Understand the process Congressional
philosophies Politics (local, state, national) Negotiation - leeway on
regulations |
Legislative affairs specialist, arbitrator,
political affairs consultant, resource conservationist, political scientist,
lawyer, community planner |
CITIZEN INPUT |
Real public participation/input Community
involvement Public surveying |
Public affairs specialist, statistician, public
participation specialist, sociologist, community planning specialist,
facilitator, CRM specialist |
INSTITUTIONS |
Policies Working with units of government Public
administration Interagency cooperation Agency cooperation Partnerships, Interagency sharing
(resources, equipment, people) Relations Working with environmental
groups |
Organizational psychologist, CRM specialist,
legislative affairs specialist, political affairs specialist, public
administrator, sociologist, USDA liaison, lawyer, community planner, resource
conservationist |
MARKETING EBA |
|
Sales specialist, marketing specialist,
facilitator, public affairs specialist, communications specialist |
PLANNING |
Quality criteria Technology transfer FOCS Watershed
management, best management practices Systems analysis Case studies Resource
assessment Persistence Personal contacts Photo interpretation Technical
guides Use of tools GIS soil interpretation/map
compilation Planning process Community planning process Incremental/economic
evaluation of alternatives |
Remote sensing specialist, GIS specialist,
chemist, agronomist, geographer, economist, demographer, resource planning
specialists, biosystem engineer, project/systems planner, resource
conservationist, statistician, cartographic specialist, urban community planner,
economist, rural development planner, archeologist, conflict
resolution/facilitator, range specialist |
SOCIOLOGY/UNDERSTANDING LOCAL PEOPLE |
Understanding rural jobs
Human behavior (why
people make the decisions they do)
Cultural assessment Cultural
differences and values
Religious values
Historical perspective
Demographics
Understanding local concerns
Ability to understand all sides
Working with diverse groups
Human impacts Archaeological impacts |
Sociologist, limited resources specialist,
psychologist, rural development specialist, archaeologist, demographer, public
affairs specialist, cultural resources specialist, anthropologist, financial
planner, ecologist, urban conservationist, socially disadvantaged client
specialist |
List of Attributes Needed to Provide EBA
Manager's Guide to Selection of Skills and Disciplines For Ecosystem Based Assistance (EBA)
Ecosystem Based Assistance (EBA) will be the Natural Resources Conservation
Service's way of doing business in the future. EBA is very similar to the total
resource management concept described in the national Planning Procedures
Handbook (NPPH). The Natural Resources Conservation Service will need to make
some changes to fully implement EBA.
EBA will require a more balanced approach involving alternatives that
provide more biological diversity and in some cases, less productivity. This
will require a shift in the staffing mix (types of disciplines, attributes,
skills) that Natural Resources Conservation Service field employees need to
implement EBA.
The Manager's Guide is based on the process below.
Process to Determine Staffing Mix For EBA
Assumptions
- EBA is implementable within Natural Resources Conservation Service using
the total resource management concepts contained in policy and guidelines.
- EBA will be done at least on a whole farm unit basis and on a watershed
basis.
- EBA includes SWAPA+H.
- EBA technology will be implemented at the field level.
- Field area = the planning and application area.
Methods For Determining Staffing Mix
- Inventory.
- Resource concerns of the field area (such as watershed, township, farm
or ranch).
- Human characteristics of the field area (community profile).
- Availability of technical support outside the field area
- within Natural Resources Conservation Service;
- outside Natural Resources Conservation Service;
- current partners;
- potential partners.
- Stakeholders (vested interests).
- Present field area's capability (with Natural Resource Conservation
Service) to implement EBA.
- Existing mandates, laws, regulations, and locally approved plans, etc.
The following matrix is an example of the way this Manager's Guide can be
implemented. Resources (SWAPA+H) and concerns of the field, or planning and
application area, are listed on the left - specific attributes across the
top. A determination is made as to how important each attribute is to meeting
the resource and concern (see matrix footnote). Those with the highest
numerical score provide the manager with decision choices.
(1) Attribute: The skill, quality, trait, or discipline required to insure
adequate ecosystem based assistance.
Manager's Matrix for Selecting Needed Disciplines
Needed Attribute *
Resource |
Concern |
Agronomist |
Soil Scientist |
Ag. Engineer |
Chemist |
Pest Mgt. Spec. |
Hydrologist |
Resource Consv. |
Total (example) |
SOIL |
Erosion: Sheet/Rill |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
120 |
Wind |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
90 |
Gully |
3 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
75 |
Health |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
115 |
|
WATER |
Pesticides |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Salinity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seeps |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flooding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irrigation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL (example) |
125 |
82 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
120 |
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*Attribute: The skill, trait, quality or discipline
required to insure
adequate ecosystem based assistance.
3 = Essential
2 = Needed
1 = Desirable
0 = Not Needed
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