SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Citizen involvement and public input are crucial parts of natural resource conservation.
Citizens often have first-hand knowledge and valuable background information of local environmental issues. Plus, more than 90 percent of Missouri's land is in private ownership, which means the bulk of the state's wildlife habitat isn't on public land.
These are the factors driving a new conservation initiative in southwest Missouri -- the Missouri Local Environmental Advisory Forum (LEAF). This program is a partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council (HSTCC). The program's focus is Barton, Newton, McDonald and Jasper counties -- the four counties HSTCC serves. A primary goal of LEAF is to empower local stakeholders to implement conservation projects that are important to them.
A series of LEAF open houses this summer will provide residents with opportunities to discuss conservation topics in their areas. Natural resource professionals will be available to hear about local issues and to provide information on how to get projects started. There will also be information about how to get funding and technical assistance for projects. The LEAF open house includes a June 25 meeting at the Pineville Community Center, 602 Jesse James Road, Pineville.
The open house will be 3 p.m.-7 p.m. and will have a children's activity area and light refreshments. These open house will be great opportunities for resource professionals to get ideas from citizens and for county residents to hear about close-to-home conservation success stories.
More information about the open house and about the LEAF program can be found at www.MissouriLeaf.org
General News on 06/25/2015