CEAP Blue Ribbon Panel Recommendations
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has asked the Society to help design and implement the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). SWCS’s role is to facilitate an external, policy-level review of CEAP.
A blue ribbon panel has been working the past couple of years to offer recommendations and refinements to CEAP that USDA can use in 2006 and beyond. The blue ribbon panel consists of academics and leaders of nongovernmental organizations, state agencies and tribes. It also represents the communities who will use, interpret, and shape opinions regarding the meaning and value of outputs from CEAP.
The panel has produced three important reports. You can access the panel's three reports below.
Final Report (May 2006)
The panel's third and final report provides a blueprint for building CEAP over the long term. The report offers direction for USDA to ensure the nation’s conservation programs are efficient and effective outlets for the taxpayer’s money. Download the complete report as a PDF by clicking here.
Opportunities to Inform Debate (September 2005)
The panel outlined the most feasible and important ways CEAP can produce useful information in time for the 2007 farm bill debate. The panel members identified three ideas that should be a focus to help expand the potential for CEAP to inform the 2007 farm bill: collaboration, regional versus national reporting, and ground-truthing. Download the complete report as a PDF by clicking here.
Preliminary Findings (March 2005)
The panel strongly and unanimously endorses the purpose of CEAP, but recommends the USDA make an immediate change in direction and emphasis for the project. For more information about the panel's recommendations, download the report as a PDF by clicking here.
The first, was produced in March 2005. It outlined preliminary findings and recommendations of the blue ribbon panel reviewing USDA's plans for CEAP.
For more information about CEAP, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ceap/.
