Across the country, partners are collaborating to improve and promote conservation on the landscape. Since 2006, the Two Chiefs' Partnership Awards, presented by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA-Forest Service (USFS) Chiefs, have recognized innovative partnerships between conservation districts, state forestry agencies, NRCS, USFS and other partners. Below are just a few examples of award-winning projects from the last three years.

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Two Chiefs' Award Winners

• Cheri Ford, U.S. Forest Service, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland
  Cheri was the 2010 Two Chiefs’ Individual Award Winner. She has been vital in moving three Regional/National initiatives forward in the past year. She has also facilitated and coordinated data collection on seven National Forests. Cheri has led the development of several statewide Memorandums of Understanding.
• West Virginia Forest Stewardship Partnership
  This group was one of the 2010 Two Chiefs’ Group Award Winners. The several agencies that compose this group collaborated to help mange vegetation and soil resources across land ownership boundaries. The WV forestry community has grown through the accomplishments and efforts of this partnership.
• Alabama Natural Resource Council
  This group was one of the 2010 Two Chiefs’ Group Award Winners. The council includes 21 members from various governmental and non governmental organizations. They coordinate various projects dealing with outreach and education. They also have maintained the restoration of the longleaf pine in Alabama.
• Collaborative Costal Whole Watershed Restoration: The Siuslaw Partnership
  This group was one of the 2010 Two Chiefs’ Group Award Winners. The partnership was composed of many private landowners, environmental groups, councils, contractors and government representatives. They successfully completed five watershed restoration projects, worked on restoring tributary and estuary systems, improved community relationships and gained significant funding for restoration projects.
• Jonas Feinstein, Jefferson Conservation District
  Jonas was the 2009 Two Chiefs’ Individual Award Winner. He is awarded for his dedication to both the Forest Service and the NRCS national programs. Jonas diligently uses his knowledge to efficiently apply those programs at the local, state and regional levels.
• Ohio Forest Resource Partnership
  This group was one of the 2009 Two Chiefs’ Group Award Winners. The partnership has worked to increase conservation and stewardship in Ohio. They have attracted funds from incentive programs to apply to conservation and stewardship efforts across landscape boundaries.
• Montana Joint Forestry Team
  This group was one of the 2009 Two Chiefs’ Group Award Winners. The partnership has implemented a Memorandum of Understanding which has become a template for the national Joint Forestry Team MOU efforts. They are developing a stewardship plan template that can be used widely across the nation. They have also worked together to structure a cost-share program to support important conservation efforts.
• Biomass Utilization & Restoration Network for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
  This group was the 2008 Two Chiefs’ Award Winner. Numerous partners are working jointly on a multi-faceted woody biomass utilization project for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP). The project is promoting opportunities in the UP to facilitate the development of an active and commercially viable woody biomass industry.
• Utah Partners for Conservation and Development
  This group was the 2007 Two Chief’s Award Winner. Utah Partners for Conservation and Development (UtahPCD) is a statewide partnership composed of leaders from state and federal agencies, academia, and non-governmental organizations. UtahPCD identifies common watershed issues and works through local teams to find consensus driven solutions for conservation and economic growth.
• California Forest Health and Fire Protection Collaboration
  This group was a 2006 Two Chiefs’ Award Winner. USFS, NRCS, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties have collaborated in a highly effective partnership across ownership lines to seamlessly ensure forest health and fuel treatments are placed in the most critical community protection and evacuation route sites.