Audubon International Announces Green Communities Program to Aid Towns, Cities, and Counties
Audubon International proudly unveils a new sustainability assessment approach for communities—the green Communities Program. The Green Communities Program (GCP) helps to determine the current state of municipal operations and community initiatives as a first step on the path towards sustainability. The Program provides a framework for an assessment, which establishes a baseline of a community's existing conditions; identifying local characteristics such as geography, natural resources, population levels, political, civic, and environmental issues and assets. Members identify opportunities and challenges to the fostering a healthy environment, high quality of life, and economic vitality.
This resource outlines Maryland’s long-range, multi-agency initiative focused on protecting the state's precious, yet limited, air, water and land resources in every region of the state. Sound land use planning, from State smart growth programs to local government and citizen actions, is a critical piece in this Smart, Green & Growing strategy. To learn more: http://www.green.maryland.gov/
‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food'
This USDA effort was created to promote new economic opportunities by better connecting consumers with local producers. It is the start of a national conversation about the importance of understanding where your food comes from and how it gets to your plate. The USDA is marshaling resources to help create the link between local production and local consumption.
More than a trend, locally sourced food may be a way to keep local economies thriving. But without numbers, it's impossible to know what the impact is. A new report planned for this spring will examine the seven counties of Southwest Idaho, plus two counties in Oregon. Instead of encouraging agriculture entrepreneurs just to grow vegetables, the analysis will help them find the weaknesses in the local food system so they can focus on them. The report will include data that will show how much money is leaving the region to buy food that could be grown or raised in the region. To read more, click here
Best Practices
