·Annual Membership

To encourage membership from as many countries as possible, the WASWC has set the minimum membership fee at $5 (even this is a sizeable amount for people from some developing countries) but all members are encouraged to contribute more if they are able to do so; a payment of $10 to $20 is suggested.

 

· Developing Country Membership Donations

Because of exchange regulations, it is sometimes impossible for people in developing countries to make payments in U.S. dollars. You are therefore invited to make a donation that can be used to pay the membership fees of one or more members from developing countries.

 

·The Moldenhouer Fund Donations

The Moldenhauer Fund was established to help fund WASWC activities such as international conferences and book publications. You may donate to this fund by indicating the amount and adding it to your payment.

 

·Life Membership

Life Membership is available at a fee of US$100 for those from developed countries and US$60 for those from developing countries.

 

 

Please complete form and return with payment to:

 

C/o Soil and Water Conservation Society

　　　 7515 Northeast Ankeny Road

　　　 Ankeny, IA 50021-9764 USA

　　　

　  Contact also

　  WWW.SWCS.org

 

 

The primary objective of WASWC is to promote the wise use of our soil and water resources. In doing so, WASWC aims to:

 

·Facilitate interaction, cooperation, and links among its members.

　　 

· Provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of good soil and water conservation practices.

 

·Convene and hold conferences and meetings and conduct field studies connected with the development of better soil and water conservation.

 

· Assist in developing the objectives and themes for ISCO conferences.

 

·Produce, publish and distribute policies, guidelines, books and papers dealing with soil and water conservation.

 

·Encourage and develop awareness, discussion and consideration of good conservation practices among associated organizations.

 

·Liaise, consult and work in conjunction with environmental organizations on the development and promulgation of global environment and conservation policies, strategies and standards.

 

The World Association of Soil and Water Conservation is an international non-government organization of hands-on professionals and informed lay persons dedicated to promoting the sustained use of the earth’s soil and water resources. WASWC provides a forum through which soil conservationists can be kept up-to-date on world-wide developments in their field, obtain information and contact people working on similar problems. WASWC has a network of some 500 members, eight vice-presidents representing major regions of the world and a governing council of five officers who are presently located in four different countries. For $5 you can become a member of this network and be informed and involved on an international level.

 

International Meetings. WASWC is a vehicle for organizing and sponsoring international meetings that focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of soil and water conservation. Over the last 18 years WASWC has sponsored and co-sponsored a number of workshops and conferences, including those on steepland and hillslope farming in Puerto Rico, Indonesia and Taiwan; conservation farming in Kenya and Tanzania; headwater control in the former Czechoslovakia and India; soil conservation extension in Thailand; rangeland desertification in Iceland and land degradation in Thailand. WASWC has also co-sponsored conferences with the International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) in Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela, Thailand, Ethiopia, Australia, Germany, Argentina and China. WASWC meetings are usually held in conjunction with ISCO and the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s meetings.

 

Quarterly Newsletter. The WASWC Newsletter is published quarterly and distributed by e-mail. It includes notices of conservation meetings, new publications and educational materials, as well as general international news about conservation.

 

Publications. A number of excellent books have been published by the WASWC in collaboration with other organizations. These books provide up-to-date information on soil and water conservation policy, strategies and technology. Most of these have resulted from meetings and conferences in which the WASWC has been involved. Discounts are usually available for members. Recent examples include: Working with Farmers for Better Land Husbandry; Multiple Objective Decision Making for Land, Water and Environmental Management; Soil Conservation Extension – from Concepts to Adaption, and Incentives in Soil Conservation – from Theory to Practice.

 

Sister organizations. WASWC is closely associated with ISCO and has links with national and regional soil conservation associations, including the Association for Better Land Husbandry and the European Society for Soil Conservation.

 

Database Networking. WASWC members are eligible to join an international computer database network providing information on conservation activities and technology through the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT).

 

WASWC’s philosophy is that the conservation and enhancement of the quality of soil and water are a common concern of all humanity. The WASWC therefore strives to promote policies, approaches and technology that will improve the care of soil and water resources and eliminate unsustainable land use practices.