AIBS has joined a stakeholder letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore urging him to fill long-standing vacant staff positions at the National Agroforestry Center (NAC) in Lincoln, Nebraska to ensure that it can properly carry out its mission to accelerate the adoption of agroforestry.
“NAC plays a cornerstone role in advancing agroforestry by leading, coordinating, and conducting scientific research, and then leverages this research to deliver science-based outreach, education, and technical assistance to natural resource professionals,” the groups argued. “However, NAC has faced a disproportionate and consistent lack of staffing, with critical roles remaining vacant for years. NAC currently has only seven full-time employees — compared to 13 in 1990 — with four critical positions currently vacant: Technology Transfer Lead Agroforester, Information Assistance, Biological Science Technician, and Secretary. With growing interest in agroforestry across the country, it is essential to fill each of these integral positions and consider hiring additional staff to support the execution of NAC’s daily operations and realizing its mission.”
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