While no formal timeline has been provided, we can expect to learn more about the proposed changes in the coming months. In a joint press release, the Services announced the Administration intends to “revise, rescind or reinstate” five critical ESA regulations.

In February of 2021, NACD provided public comments responding to the federal notice on Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Interagency Cooperation. In the comments, NACD stated, “NACD supports FWS’s decision to enhance management by clarifying the ESA Section 7 consultation process. This will provide natural resource managers with the ability and confidence to carry out important work on the ground.”

Read the full recap in NACD's blog.

Join us for the 2021 NACD Summer Meeting and 75th Anniversary Celebration, scheduled to be held July 24-27 in Chicago, Ill. The agenda includes a full NACD board meeting, a 75h Anniversary Celebration event and a conservation forum full of regional and national leaders in conservation.

NACD's Summer Meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Magnificent Mile. Hotel rates are $185 per night. To book your hotel room, click here and use the group name "NACD Conserv Districts". Early-bird registration is $275 and includes access to all meetings and events.

Don’t delay, the deadline for early-bird registration and hotel reservations is Friday, July 2. When you register, don’t forget to make a Friends of NACD donation. Every $75 donation receives a special NACD 75th Anniversary commemorative hat!

To learn more, book your hotel and view the agenda, visit NACD's Summer Meeting webpage. We can't wait to see you all in Chicago!

The next NACD Monthly Urban and Community Webinar will be held June 17 at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In this webinar, learn from Jakob Hamlescher and Janine Rybka of Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as they share information on how they overcame some setbacks after receiving their 2020 Urban Agriculture Conservation grant.

From staff changes and issues with securing a site to a global pandemic, the team at Cuyahoga SWCD has faced a variety of challenges. Yet, they will still be able to achieve their goal of installing a food forest to provide both a learning space and to contribute to conservation of native North American fruit trees.

The one-hour webinar will take place on Zoom. Registration is available online for free, but is required.

In 2020, together with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), NACD awarded funding through the Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative to the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Indiana.

The district used the 2020 grant to increase native plantings on urban farms to provide biodiversity and critical habitat for beneficial and pollinating insects. The local nonprofit farm Indy Urban Acres (IUA) provided a demonstration site for farmscaping with insectary strips, field borders and hedgerows, and the SWCD assisted the farm in the development of a native plant nursery to ensure a sustainable source of plant stock for current and future projects. With this plant stock, the project established native fruit trees and understories at a community-based nonprofit engaged in youth development and revitalization of neighborhoods.

Kevin Allison, SWCD soil health specialist, wants to let SWCDs and growers know that site preparation is the key to long term success. “Fully terminating the existing vegetation is a big first step. On organic farms, tarping the area for a season and then using lasagna style mulching methods to set up natives is a good way to go,” he said. “It’s important to pull aggressive weeds during the first couple years, but thoughtful ground prep will decrease that weed pressure and time needed for maintenance. Native plantings can take some effort, but we are excited about the perennial ecosystem services, especially the beneficial insects and their pest control.”

Multiple trainings and workshops were conducted to educate local farmers, gardeners, environmental organizations, youth and conservation agency partners on native plants and related conservation practices. Themes included beneficial insects, insect management strategies, starting native plants, hedgerow establishment, NRCS program support and medicinal and cultural uses of native trees and shrubs.

Speakers included national experts, extension specialists, SWCD staff and local growers. Through these workshops, additional internal trainings and newly created publications, the SWCD and IUA staff now have the technical capacity to assist growers in the application of native plants in urban agriculture and will continue to provide workshops and direct technical assistance.

Read more about all grantees through NACD’s Urban Agriculture Conservation Initiative on NACD's ArcGIS Story Map webpage.

In May, NACD hosted a series of virtual summits to address how conservation districts are working together with all community members to conquer the challenges that natural disasters such as high winds, wildfires and flooding pose to facing private landowners.

The recordings from all three summits are now available to view on NACD's YouTube Channel. The playlists for each regional summit can be found here:

As part of their 2020 NACD UAC Grant, Cumberland County SWCD developed a toolkit on how to develop a Community Agriculture Plan and piloted the planning process in four communities. Join a webinar on June 22, 3:30-5:00 p.m. to learn more from the district about the toolkit and from the communities about the process for drafting a Community Agriculture Plan.

This webinar is recommended for SWCDs, municipal officials, community leaders, community development groups, agriculture based organizations or anyone wanting to learn more about initiating community agriculture programs in their community.

While the event is free to attend, please register here to receive the link to attend and the webinar recording afterward.

Thank you Jim Berlier and Blount Knowles for joining Friends of NACD as Lifetime Members! Berlier, from New Mexico, is the Southwest Region Representative on the NACD Executive Board. Knowles is the president of the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Friends of NACD support the nation’s conservation districts through donations that fund the Friends of NACD District Grants Program. Since 2020, the program has awarded $20,000 in grant funding to eight districts across the country. Join Friends of NACD today!

NACD and The Pollinator Partnership are pleased to solicit nominees for the 2021 United States Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award, recognizing an individual or family in the farm and ranch community who has contributed significantly to pollinator species protection and conservation.

The recipients of the 2021 award will be recognized during an award ceremony that opens the 21st Annual North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Conference on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021.

Nominations are due by July 16, 2021. Learn more about the award and how to submit your nomination here.

Up to $4 million in competitive grants is available to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects.

USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov for planning and implementation projects until midnight Eastern on July 30, 2021. Planning projects initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Implementation projects that accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers.

More information is available online here.

Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events!