ESMC FINDS POTENTIAL DEMAND FOR ECOSYSTEM MARKET CREDITS APPROACHES $14 BILLION

Potential purchases of U.S. ecosystem credits from agriculture could be as high as $13.9 billion according to an IHS Markit economic assessment released today by the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC).

 

The study sought to determine the extent of market demand for credits that American farmers and ranchers can generate through establishing and maintaining conservation practices that provide quantified ecosystem benefits. The economic assessment was released at the Sept. 24 Farm Foundation Forum on “Incentivizing Conservation Agriculture.”

 

“The Informa assessment confirms ESMC’s conviction that there is substantial demand for ecosystem services from farmers and ranchers. ESMC is building a voluntary market to monetize those outcomes for producers, using science-based approaches to increase and measure soil organic carbon, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve water quality and water use efficiency,” said ESMC Executive Director Debbie Reed . “This study demonstrates conclusively the demand for the ecosystems services marketplace ESMC will launch in 2022. Through the ESMC marketplace, farmers and ranchers will receive payments for the environmental benefits they provide, and corporate and public entities will be able purchase credits to meet their sustainability goals.” 

 

NACD served on the ESMC Steering Committee and joined the ESMC as a Legacy Partner in June 2019 . To learn more and read the full press release, visit ESMC's website .

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT YOUR NEXT MEETING OR

TELECONFERENCE?

Whether you are conducting a meeting in person or over the phone via conference call, there are easy tools you can arm yourself with that will allow you to facilitate a productive and efficient meeting.

Meetings and especially conference calls can easily get chaotic, become unorganized and go sour very quickly, if not conducted properly. Do you know how to effectively conduct your next meeting or teleconference? Use these tips and tricks to become a master meeting facilitator.

When setting meeting agendas, one easy way to organize talking points is by using parliamentary procedures. Parliamentary procedure is a time-tested method of conducting business and public meetings that allows everyone to be heard and decisions to be made without confusion. Parliamentary proceedings are not set in stone and can be adapted for the specific needs of any organization.

To read the rest of this  blog , and other Did You Know? blogs, visit  NACD's website .

NACD GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS' UPDATE

ON FY2020 APPROPRIATIONS

As the days grow shorter, we draw closer to the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, when Congress is once again pressed into action to ensure that the federal government remains funded. New appropriations bills are needed to set spending for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins Oct. 1, 2019. Although the process is far from over, things are looking positive with respect to NACD’s priorities.

The House of Representatives launched the appropriations cycle with the passage of several consolidated appropriations bills in June to provide funding for FY2020. However, these bills passed before Congress set the overall spending limit for the federal government. This bipartisan spending framework – or budget resolution – was passed in July, just before the August congressional recess. Unlike the House, the Senate opted to wait until the spending framework passed to begin its appropriations work. The Senate Appropriations Committee didn’t consider its Agriculture Appropriations bill, which funds most USDA activities, until Sept. 17. The Senate has yet to consider an Interior-Environment Appropriations bill, which would fund activities at the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and 319 grants at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Because of this slow progress, Congress must now pass a short term spending bill called a Continuing Resolution (CR) in order to avoid a lapse in federal funding, which will occur on Oct. 1. The House passed such a measure on Sept. 19, to provide funding through Nov. 21, 2019. This would give each chamber additional time to work toward a long-term spending measure to fund the federal government for the duration of FY2020. Although NACD is concerned with the effects that short-term spending bills will have on operations at these agencies, this is a far better outcome than a government shutdown.

To read the rest of this update, visit NACD's blog page.

LAST CALL TO SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION:

HUGH HAMMOND BENNETT AWARD

The National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) is still seeking nominations for  the 2020 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence . The deadline for nominations is only one week away!

Do you know a landowner who has successfully used and maintained conservation practices to deal with serious resource issues on their land? Do you know a conservation planner who has been effective in helping landowners seek conservation planning assistance?

It’s time to recognize those who are making a difference on the land each and every day. The Hugh Hammond Bennett Award honors the legacy of Hugh Hammond Bennett by recognizing those who are dedicated to conservation planning and implementation.

Nominations must be received using  NCPP's nomination packet, outlining how the producer or individual has met the award criteria. Notify your respective NCPP State conservation partner leader and submit your nominations electronically by Tuesday, Oct. 1.

NCFSWC CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the North Carolina Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation (NCFSWC) celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Farmstead, a family-owned working farm in Mount Pleasant, N.C.

Chartered in 1999, NCFSWC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote, protect and improve North Carolina soil and water resources. NCFSWC works closely with the state's conservation partnership and its 96 soil and water conservation districts.

The anniversary celebration began with a rainfall simulator demonstration (pictured above), which is part of NCFSWC's Mobile Soils Classroom initiative to promote soil health education, in partnership with the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts .

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Matt Lohr and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler provided keynote addresses highlighting the achievements of NCFSWC over the past two decades. NACD Southeast Region Chair Frank Williams represented the national association at the event.

Additionally, NCFSWC presented several awards, recognizing the North Carolina Farm Bureau for providing seed funding 20 years ago to begin the organization; Dr. Bill Davis for leading NCFSWC as the first chairperson, and for his early fundraising efforts; and Cecil Settle who served as the organization's first executive director.

At the end of the gathering, Timothy Beard , NRCS State Conservationist for North Carolina surprised NCFSWC Executive Director Michelle Lovejoy with an award honoring the accomplishments of the organization under her leadership. 

NAPA, LAKE COUNTY RCDS PARTNER TO TACKLE FORESTLAND

California’s Napa Valley may be famous for its vineyards, but the region also has a variety of land cover from rangelands to forests. Forestlands are providing an exciting new challenge for the Napa and Lake County Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) who recently partnered with each other through a 2019 NACD Technical Assistance (TA) grant in order to meet the needs of private forestry owners.

With retired forester Jim Bridges on its board, Lake County RCD is not new to forestry; however, Napa RCD Executive Director Lucas Patzek is excited about the opportunity to expand the district's programs to include forestry. The district's TA grant will help increase capacity for both districts by providing support for landowners with the development of forestry conservation plans.

Both areas have experienced several significant wildfires in the last decade, making the districts well-placed to provide technical assistance related to reforestation, information on reducing fuel loads and general forestry outreach.

The Napa RCD's new TA grant employee won't start until Oct. 1, however both districts are already sharing information about their forestry work. On Sept. 18, representatives from both districts, local staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), partner agencies and NACD Pacific Region Representative Ariel Rivers met with California Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (4th District) to discuss future projects and opportunities.

An avid supporter of the RCDs, Aguiar-Curry is very interested in regional and collaborative approaches to improving the health and vibrancy of rural communities in her district. This meeting helped further solidify the working relationship between the RCDs and the Assembly Member’s office. Additionally, the meeting helped provide updates on the current regional issues related to forestry such as the lack of locally adapted conifer seeds in stored seedbanks for reforestation across the region.

If you want to conduct similar meetings, but need help getting started, please reach out to NACD’s Government Affairs team and check out our resources at NACD's Grassroots Advocacy webpage.

NACD Welcomes

Fall Interns Lea Mayer and Mariah MacKenzie

On Monday, Sept. 23, Lea Mayer and Mariah MacKenzie joined NACD as the association's fall interns.

Lea Mayer is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with degrees in political science and sustainability studies.

Growing up in Miami, Mayer was exposed to a wide range of environmental issues including toxic blooms and coral bleaching, which gave her the opportunity to participate in research and study abroad in Gold Coast, Australia during college.

At NACD, Mayer looks forward to working with influential conservationists and immersing herself in soil and water quality, while also learning how to better educate others on sustainable practices.

Mayer is based in Washington, D.C., and can be reached at intern@nacdnet.org .

Mariah MacKenzie is in her junior year at George Washington University, where she plans to major in political science.

MacKenzie was inspired to pursue her undergraduate studies in environmental policy from her time on the shores of Cape Cod as a child, and her work with several national and state parks.

While at NACD, MacKenzie looks forward to learning more about the conservation and protection initiatives that are currently active across the country, and the role that NACD plays in them.



MacKenzie is based in Washington, D.C., and can be reached at intern2@nacdnet.org .

Register Now:

NRCS to Host RCPP Project Webinar

On Sept. 3, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Announcement for Program Funding (APF) for the next round of RCPP projects, with a deadline of  Dec. 3, 2019 .

NRCS will hold a webinar with more information on how to apply this  Thursday, Sept. 26  at  3:00 p.m. Eastern .

Conservation districts across the country have been successful participants in RCPP, and we encourage all districts to join the webinar to see if this program will help address natural resource concerns in your area.

To learn more and access the webinar, visit the NRCS webpage .

Apply Today:

New Jobs Available on NACD's Job Board

Looking for a new job in conservation? Check out these recent job listings and see if you qualify:

To learn more about each position and apply, visit NACD's  job board webpage .

Celebrate National Preparedness Month With This Week's Theme: Get Involved

Did you know September is National Preparedness Month?

This week’s Emergency Preparedness theme is "Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness.”

Consider taking classes in lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED and first aid, or train with local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Learn more about the steps you can take to prepare for disasters and emergencies at Ready.gov.

2020 NCF-Envirothon Resources

Now Available

The 2020 National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon's key topics, learning objectives and resources are now available on the NCF-Envirothon website.

The current issue topic for the 2020 competition season is " Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions."

The posted resources will allow students to explore this important natural resource issue and focal point of the 2020 NCF-Envirothon, which will be held July 26-31, 2020 at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.

Reserve Your Booth: 2020 NACD Annual Meeting's Conservation Innovation Fair

NACD's 74th Annual Meeting from Feb. 8-12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nev., will feature a  Conservation Innovation Fair , aligning with the meeting's theme, " Conservation Innovation: Working from the Roots Up .”

The Innovation Fair will include Conservation Innovation booths within the NACD Conservation Expo, a VIP preview of the Innovation Booths, educational breakout sessions and a half-day symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. NACD invites all organizations and companies whose innovations help support conservation delivery to participate.

The 2020 Annual Meeting Conservation Expo will give meeting attendees the opportunity to get to know organizations and businesses in the conservation space. All exhibitor information is available online, including  an online registration form . All standard booths come with one complimentary attendee registration.

To learn more about the Innovation Fair and the Conservation Expo, and to register your organization, visit NACD's  Annual Meeting webpage . For any questions, please reach out to NACD Director of Development  Laura Demmel  at  laura-demmel@nacdnet.org  or 406-539-4670.

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