NACD’s 2021 Stewardship and Education materials, celebrating the theme “Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities,” are now available for free download through NACD's Conservation Education Hub.

Trees and forests are critical to providing clean air and water, healthy soil, abundant wildlife habitat and valuable products we use every day. Next year's Stewardship Week, scheduled for April 25-May 2, 2021, will highlight the importance of conserving and protecting our trees and forests.

These free, downloadable materials provide educators with the resources to promote stewardship and conservation in the classroom. Educating young people about the importance of trees in our daily lives is an essential part of what NACD advocates for through natural resource conservation.

In the coming weeks, conservation districts will be able to place orders for print-on-demand 2021 materials. Rules and other resources for the 2021 NACD Poster Contest are also available for free download on  NACD's Contests webpage. To learn more, visit NACD's Stewardship Program webpage or contact stewardship@nacdnet.org.

NACD ANNOUNCES WINNER OF COASTS CAMPAIGN RAFFLE

Throughout National Ocean Month this June, NACD encouraged conservation districts to share on social media how they support coastal conservation using the hashtag #DistrictsConserveCoasts. Participating districts were entered into a raffle to win a pair of Yeti mugs donated by Cabela’s.

NACD is excited to announce the winner of the raffle is California's San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD)! Congratulations to San Mateo RCD and thanks for sharing the Butano Channel Reconnection project to restore fish passage and habitat. Read more about how districts in other states support coastal conservation, their coastal natural resource issues and partnerships in NACD's most recent blog post summarizing the campaign.

 

Thanks to all who participated in NACD’s #DistrictsConserveCoasts social media campaign to support and promote coastal conservation! Although the campaign and opportunity to win the raffle have ended, NACD encourages districts–coastal, Great Lakes and inland–to continue to share coastal conservation programs, activities and events with your NACD regional representative and on social media using the hashtag #DistrictsConserveCoasts.

NOMINATE YOUR CONSERVATION LEADERS TODAY

Do you have an outstanding conservation leader in your community? Take this opportunity to show your appreciation for their work and dedication by sending in a nomination for one of NACD’s national conservation awards.

The NACD Friend of Conservation Award recognizes an individual, business, organization or agency outside the association for outstanding contributions to the conservation of our nation’s natural resources.

The NACD Distinguished Service Award honors an individual within the association, a conservation district or a state association that has made significant contributions to the conservation and proper management of our nation’s natural resources.

Nominations are due Monday, Aug. 31. All nominations will receive an honorable mention certificate from NACD President Tim Palmer in appreciation for their service to conservation. Winning nominations will receive a complimentary meeting registration for NACD's 2021 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La., a complimentary Appreciation Banquet ticket, a plaque, and national recognition at the annual meeting and in NACD’s publications.

For more information and the guidelines to nominate an outstanding conservation leader, please visit the NACD website and download the nomination forms.

JULY U&C WEBINAR FOCUSES ON

UAC PROGRAM

The next NACD Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for  12:00-1:00 p.m. Eastern on  July 16, 2020, will feature the Prince George's Soil Conservation District (SCD)'s Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) program. With an NACD grant, the SCD launched the program in 2017.

Learn how the Prince George's SCD worked with partners in Prince George’s County, Md., to expand opportunities for agriculture through urban farm legislation and a property tax credit for landowners engaged in urban agriculture activities.

In addition, conservation district staff will introduce a brief history of urban farming in Prince George’s County, explore a few successful urban farm enterprises and the opportunities and challenges they currently face, and share a preview of what’s on the horizon.

These popular webinars, held on the third Thursday of each month, are sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation in partnership with the NACD Urban and Community Resource Policy Group. There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, click  here. If you have difficulty, please contact NACD Senior Advisor  Debra Bogar at  deb-bogar@nacdnet.org.

NACD Offices Closed

for Fourth of July

NACD's offices will be closed  Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day on Saturday, July 4. We wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!

NCF Needs Your Feedback

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is seeking input from the public on its existing programs and work through its  2020 NCF Survey . We value your input and opinions, and we plan to use your responses to improve the work of the board and the NCF-Envirothon and the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) programs.

This survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. Please fill out the survey by July 10, 2020 . Upon completion of the survey, you will be entered for a chance to win a Yeti coffee cup from NACD's Marketplace.

To take the survey, click here .

Submit Your Ideas:

NACD 2021 Annual Meeting Theme

NACD's 75th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La., is scheduled to take place Feb. 6-10, 2021.

We need your help coming up with a theme to celebrate NACD's 75th Anniversary! The winning submission will also earn a complimentary full registration to the 2021 Annual Meeting.

To submit your theme idea, please fill out the form  here .

House to Introduce Infrastructure Package

The House of Representatives is expected to consider the Moving Forward Act this week, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure package that includes funding for various types of infrastructure projects, including transportation, schools and housing. Included in this bill is text from Rep. Angie Craig ’s (D-MN) legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Section 319 Nonpoint Source grant program at $200 million annually for the next five years.

These important grants support local water quality activities that assist in mitigating nonpoint sources of water pollution through agricultural best management practices, low impact development and stormwater management.

NACD is pleased to see support for the 319 Nonpoint Source grant program and annually requests funding for these important activities through Congress’s annual appropriations process. 

Learn more here.

LSR Grant Program Provides Forestry Opportunities

The Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) program is a U.S. Forest Service competitive grant program that promotes collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes and furthers priorities identified in state forest action plans. The 2018 Farm Bill expanded eligible applicants to include units of local government, nonprofit organizations (defined as 501(c)(3)), universities and tribes.

Additional details can also be found on the Landscape Scale Restoration's website.

Oregon District Seeks General Manager

The Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) , based in Beavercreek, Ore., seeks an experienced general manager to serve as the chief executive officer of the conservation district.

With a large staff and numerous programs and partnerships, the SWCD is a regional leader in conserving natural resources in Oregon. Clackamas SWCD offers a competitive wage schedule and excellent benefits package. The position is open until filled. More details about the position 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 !