It is important to understand the term Conservancy Representative because it affects administrative procedures, personnel qualifications, and insurance coverage. To qualify as a Conservancy Representative, a person must meet two criteria:

1. The person must be a Conservancy employee or volunteer.
2. The person must be performing some authorized activity or action that is furthering the mission of the Conservancy, regardless of whether the activity is performed on Conservancy-owned land.

Prescribed burning on Conservancy property is an obvious example of an activity that would qualify as furthering the Conservancy's mission. Conducting a prescribed fire on land not owned by the Conservancy might also qualify, as would engaging in initial attack under the terms of a Mutual Aid Agreement, if these activities are a means of furthering the Conservancy's goals. It is critical to recognize that you will be functioning as a Conservancy Representative even if the activity is on land not owned by the Conservancy.

Excluded from the category of Conservancy Representatives are:

• Individuals under contract to the Conservancy.
• Representatives of other organizations or agencies, even if they are participating in Conservancy fire management activities. They are representatives of their own agency or organization.

An example of the second category is a state forestry employee who participates on a joint burn crew led by a TNC burn boss. The agency employee is acting as a representative of his/her agency, not the Conservancy.

Some cases are difficult to interpret. For example, is a private contractor volunteering on a Conservancy burn crew representing his/her business, or truly acting as a volunteer? In ambiguous cases, check with your Conservancy attorney or Fire Manager for clarification. The interpretation may affect insurance coverage and fire planning requirements.

Last updated April 30, 2008.