Expressed interest in land conservation is increasing rapidly among local and state officials and residents. Evidence of this interest is found in Extension-sponsored Community Profiles and other programs. A typical Community Profile includes a weekend meeting in which citizens identify aspects of their communities they most value and what actions they want to take to conserve or improve those resources. Extension is committed to following up with these groups with education and assistance. Increasingly, natural resource concerns are emerging from Profiles as key areas for community action.
Water resources is an integral part of the communities' concerns and their conservation interests.
A 55 member Public Advisory Group evaluated and ranked 55 risks and reported their findings in May, 1997. UNH Cooperative Extension contributed to this project through an Advisory Committee. Four communities in NH or VT will develop comprehensive resource conservation plans. Fifteen Extension staff from NH and VT will participate in training that will increase their knowledge of natural resource inventory techniques including GIS, land conservation methods and inventory-based conservation planning. This will enable Extension to multiply its efforts to meet the needs and demands for resource protection education and assistance.