NACD President Michael Crowder co-authored an op-ed with Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) advocating for locally-led conservation, especially when it comes to landscape-level decisions. The piece was published in The Hill on Thurs., July 17. The story can be viewed here, or read below:

"Although we hail from different regions of the country, we share the belief that land management decisions are most effective when made by local communities using the best available science. This is especially true when considering listing species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Local experts and communities offer important knowledge and perspective that should be relied upon when making decisions that affect them. A clear example of this need is the current debate on the status of the greater sage-grouse, which is found in 11 western states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

While intended to help recover imperiled species, the ESA often overlooks local input and delays responsible land and habitat management. Local resources like conservation districts exist across every county in the U.S. and offer tested, trusted relationships with landowners in their communities, providing locally led conservation expertise and technical assistance. Conservation district staff work with landowners to make appropriate land management decisions to not only conserve natural resources, but to establish and fortify biologically diverse habitat, including for endangered, threatened, or at-risk species.

Listing the greater sage-grouse would undermine the time and resources already in use to manage the species. Extensive work has been underway for more than a decade by local actors across the greater sage-grouse’s range to ensure its well-being, involving thousands of landowners. Through local collaboration with conservation districts, landowners in the West have already maintained and restored millions of acres of greater sage-grouse habitat.

We agree that the greater sage-grouse must be protected, yet to do so successfully requires local, collaborative conservation, input and decision-making. Threats to the sage-grouse include wildfires, exacerbated by improper fuels management, and invasive plant species. Local conservation districts work with landowners every day to control fire-prone invasive species and noxious weeds, conduct prescribed burns, and remove hazardous fuels from the landscape, all of which threaten greater sage-grouse habitat.

Rather than list the greater sage-grouse, investments in local programs are the best way to deliver conservation. When local conservation is properly supported, landowners can make the best possible decisions for their lands and the many species that call them home. With locally led conservation driving decisions, we all win — the greater sage-grouse included."

During the week of June 14, the Congressional Western Caucus hosted “Species Week,” which was dedicated to addressing issues related to the Endangered Species Act. Last week, Caucus Chairman Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) hosted a Special Order after votes and can be viewed online here.

Through a partnership with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), NACD provided 16 undergraduate college students the opportunity to participate in the 2021 Conservation Careers Workshop. This year's workshop was themed "Forest Management, Regeneration and Restoration" and was held June 13-15.

The three-day event was presented virtually through funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the United States Forest Service (USFS). The collegiate participants from natural resource conservation and agriculture fields of study represented 12 states and networked with career professionals from the host state of Louisiana and across the U.S.

In the day one agenda, AFA presented and led discussions identifying key personal strengths. Day two featured three virtual field trips with Louisiana natural resource management professionals from Lafourche-Terrebonne Soil and Water Conservation District, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, NRCS and the USFS. Each presenter participated live during the workshop for an extended question and answer session following the video. These virtual field trips will be posted to NACD's YouTube channel.

The third and final day included in-depth presentations by NRCS and the USFS, which identified career and internship opportunities with each agency. Following this was a Career Roundtable, which placed students with public and private professionals in soil and nutrient management, regenerative agriculture, fish and wildlife management, forestry and other natural resource management fields. The 2021 Conservation Careers Workshop wrapped up with Lisa Knauf Owen, assistant director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, presenting on the importance of good communication with producers.

The NACD partnership with AFA will expand the Conservation Careers Workshop to a larger Sustainability Institute format during the NACD Annual Meeting in 2022. More information about the Institute and its application period will be announced soon.

Entitled "Diamonds Out of the Dust: 75 Years of Conservation District Success Stories," this monthly newsletter features stories submitted by conservation districts and state/territory associations across the nation.

In the June edition, we highlighted Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District's Conservation Innovation Grant, Amy Seiger's recognition through the National Regenerative Agriculture Woman of the Year Award and Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District's assistance to local schools.

You'll also hear from Sam Casella, president of the New York Association of Conservation Districts, and his thoughts on the importance of conservation, conservation districts and NACD.

Learn more about our 75th Anniversary campaign and view all past newsletters here. To be featured in the newsletter, share your district's success story by submitting this online form.

NACD President Michael Crowder is hosting a virtual social hour this Thursday, June 24 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Join for a casual conservation with your association president on the issues that matter most to you as a conservationist - or just to catch up!

You can join the Zoom meeting here. Below are the credentials:

Meeting ID -

899 8170 9585

Passcode -

406050

Thank you for helping us raise over $8,000 for the 2022 Friends of NACD District Grants Program!

We are nearly halfway to meeting our goal to raise $20,000 to award eight grants. Please consider investing in the work of conservation districts across the country by donating today. Donations of $75 or more receive a complimentary NACD 75th Anniversary cap!

Interested in joining us in Chicago July 24-27 for the 2021 NACD Summer Meeting?

Be sure to register by July 2, 2021, to take advantage of our early bird registration price of $275!

You can view the meeting agenda, confirmed speakers, registration prices and more on our website, here.

This week is Pollinator Week, an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. How will you be celebrating pollinators and sharing what we can be doing to protect them?

Popular events include planting for pollinators, hosting socially distant garden tours, participating in online bee and butterfly ID workshops, and so much more. Find events near you on the Pollinator Partnership's website.

In celebration of National Soil Health Day tomorrow, the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition are launching 4TheSoil.

Learn about core principles of healthy soil management and sign the pledge at 4theSoil.org.

The U.S. Forest Service is hosting a series of webinars on riparian forest buffers.

The first in the series, scheduled for July 13, 2021, is a presentation by USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station and Michigan State University.

The second session, scheduled for Aug. 10, 2021, will be by the Chesapeake Bay Program. The third and final session, scheduled for Sept. 14, 2021, will feature presentations from Trout Unlimited and Shoal Creek Woodlands for Wildlife.

More information about the series and how to register can be found here.

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