UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
December 15, 2008
SECRETARY’S MEMORANDUM 1056-001
Establishment of the Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets
1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Memorandum is to announce the establishment of the Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets within the Office of the Secretary to assist the Secretary in implementing section 2709 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (“FCEA”), Pub. L. 110-246.
Section 2709 of FCEA amended the Food Security Act of 1985, Pub. L. 99-198, to require the Secretary to establish technical guidelines that outline science-based methods to measure the environmental services benefits from conservation and land management activities in order to facilitate the participation of farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in emerging environmental services markets.
An inter-departmental Conservation and Land Management Environmental Services Board (“Board”) has been established for the purpose of assisting the Secretary in adopting the technical guidelines and science-based methods to be used by the Federal Government to assess environmental service benefits of conservation and land management. The Secretary serves as Chair of the Board, and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget serve as Vice-Chairs of the Board. Board membership consists of other executive branch officials.
The Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets established by this Memorandum will provide administrative and technical assistance to the Secretary in implementing section 2709 of FCEA, including assistance in carrying out the Secretary’s duties as Chair of the Board.
2. ACTIONS ORDERED
a. Establishment. There is hereby established within the Office of the Secretary the Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets (“OESM”).
b. Functions. The OESM shall provide administrative and technical support to the Secretary to assist the Secretary in implementing section 2709 of FCEA and in carrying out the Secretary’s duties as Chair of the Board.
c. Funding. Financial support to fund the OESM shall be provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forest Service, Farm Service Agency, and Rural Development, pursuant to a Decision Memorandum for the Secretary dated November 12, 2008.
d. Additional Activities. USDA agencies and offices shall, at the request of the Secretary, assist the OESM by carrying out activities such as research on the environmental performance of conservation and land management activities, synthesis of existing research and analysis of the production of environmental services from conservation and land management, development of methods and approaches for quantifying environmental services, and development of calculation tools and models.
3. INCIDENTAL TRANSFERS
The Assistant Secretary for Administration and the Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, are authorized to approve such transfers of funds, personnel, employment authority, space, records, property, and incidentals as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Memorandum.
4. EXISTING DIRECTIVES
Prior delegations of authority, administrative regulations, and other directives not inconsistent with the provisions of this Memorandum shall remain in full force and effect.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE
The provisions of this Memorandum are effective immediately.
6. TERMINATION
This Memorandum shall remain in full force and effect for one year or until such earlier time as published delegations of authority have been revised to incorporate its provisions.
/s/
EDWARD T. SCHAFER
SECRETARY