Composed of the representatives from the 50 states and seven territories, the national conservation group can lobby the U.S. Congress on issues related to farming, water and other natural resource conservation issues.
In his letter to Cabrera, association president John Redding welcomed the CNMI as full member of the group.
Redding said the association recognizes the challenges that the CNMI is now experiencing and is looking forward to learn more about them.
For the first time, the CNMI sent a representative to the group’s annual meeting held on Jan. 30 to Feb. 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Roland Quitugua, the president of the Pacific Basin Association of Conservation Districts based on Guam, asked Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to send someone who will represent the CNMI in the national association.
Cabrera, who attended the five-day meeting, said in an interview yesterday that the CNMI also has voting power when it comes to adopting resolutions, most of which are addressed to the U.S. Congress.
With the theme “Building a Better Tomorrow,” this year’s meeting was held to discuss how conservation districts can play a key and proactive role in the future of natural resource conservation.
One of the main issues that were tackled during the meeting was the watershed projects across the U.S. that was not funded by the Bush administration last year.
The participants also addressed small acreage issues which the CNMI is also dealing with.
Cabrera said conservation districts across the U.S. are struggling to provide technical assistance to increasing numbers of farms, vineyards, aquaculture and livestock.
