LIANA S. Hofschneider, Ryan C. Reyes, Victor D. Cabrera, and Edward C. Deleon Guerrero were sworn in by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Wednesday last week to serve on the board of the Soil and Water Conservation District for Saipan and the Northern Islands.
Through months-long process, Hofschneider was selected to be district board chair.
She later assisted in the appointment of Reyes as vice chair, Deleon Guerrero as treasurer, and Cabrera as outreach and public information chair.
The board secretary position is vacant, but an interim secretary has been assisting the newly appointed board members in the meantime.
During an interview with Variety on Thursday, CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony T. Benavente said the board members were selected through several meetings between DLNR and farmers and ranchers on island.
The discussions took into account that board members must understand the needs of farmers and ranchers within their district, and preferably must be farmers and/or ranchers themselves.
Benavente said Hofschneider received significant support that led to her selection as board chair.
The board is required by law to work with DLNR regarding soil and water conservation for farmers and ranchers, most notably on the Kagman watershed and other pending projects.
They meet with farmers and ranchers to assess any and all water issues that impede local farming and ranching, then report the issues to DLNR and discuss ways that they can be resolved.
They are likewise responsible for disseminating a newsletter that will clarify their goals, objectives, funding sources, and other related information.
The board members will each serve three-year terms, and will work closely with the conservation districts of Tinian and Rota.
Secretary Benavente said all three boards will soon meet to select an overall CNMI board chair.
This is especially important for pertinent regional and national meetings, including one that will be held in Hawaii this September.
Benavente said such meetings are opportunities for the CNMI to voice the concerns of its ranchers and farmers, and potentially obtain financial assistance from federal partners.
He said there have been recurring issues, such as overgrown grass and weeds that have clogged water lines crucial in redirecting stormwater.
With regards to local funding, Benavente said it can be requested if local funds are available.
He said funding is especially needed to clear the waterlines, replace faulty waterlines, and address the other needs of local farmers and ranchers.
Benavente said DLNR will work with the S&WCD to resolve these issues.
For more information, contact DLNR at (670) 322-9830.
From left, Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony T. Benavente, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Liana S. Hofschneider, Ryan C. Reyes, and Victor D. Cabrera pose for a photo in the governor’s conference room. Deleon Guerrero, Hofschneider, Reyes, and Cabrera were sworn in as the new board members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil & Water Conservation District.
