Today is #GivingTuesday and the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is asking for your financial support to raise $50,000 to keep its programs moving forward. ALL donations received today will be matched!
In recent years, NCF has strengthened its organizational identity and purpose by increasing program support, refocusing our mission and vision statements, developing a strategic plan, launching a new logo and website and introducing a new cornerstone program with the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI).
Your support will help continue to fund conservation education programs, including NGLI and the NCF-Envirothon, to raise the next generation of conservation leaders. Tomorrow’s conservation leaders are stepping up to the plate today to learn and prepare for the challenges and obstacles ahead, and it’s our obligation to help prepare them.
Every dollar helps NCF keep its programs moving forward. Thank you in advance for your commitment and support! You can learn more about the campaign and donate here.
|
NARRAGANSETT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: A LIFE'S PASSION |
Cassius Spears is a man who is passionate about his family, his community and the land. The type of person who sits quietly and unassumingly in a room until he feels moved to speak and, when he does, it is with a soft voice and a humble demeanor. One cannot help but be drawn into the story he tells, weaving dignity and respect into his every word. It is in this fashion that he speaks of growing up in Rhode Island as a member of the Narragansett tribe; farming, clamming, crabbing, fishing, and generally being in touch with the land and where his food came from.
Spears grew up, got married, had three children, and then six grandchildren. He and his wife began to notice that the generations following them were progressively becoming removed from agriculture. This has been a theme for many people in the U.S. and the world over the past several decades, but Spears decided to do something about it and, with the blessing of the Narragansett Tribal Council, he undertook the task of turning what was essentially a junk yard into a farm. After years of hard work he and his crew were able to plant traditional Narragansett Flint corn among other crops into this plot of land that became known as the Crandall Minacommuck Farm, and began the Narragansett Food Sovereignty Initiative (NFSI).
Alongside his family and community members, Spears worked to remediate both the soil and his community’s relationship with the land and the food that sustains them. One of the NFSI’s priorities is to reinstate the connection between the Narragansett and local community to this land through agriculture and natural resource preservation.
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we are excited to share this story of conservation work being done in Rhode Island by Spears. Read the full story on NACD's blog. Learn more about the Narragansett Food Sovereignty Initiative here.
|
NACD SUBMITS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED NEPA
RULE CHANGES
|
On October 7, 2021, The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed modifications to its regulations for implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to restore regulatory provisions that were in effect prior to 2020. NEPA was passed by Congress in 1970 and guides how the federal government assesses the environmental impacts of federal actions.
Changes were previously made to NEPA regulations in July of 2020 and took effect that September. NACD submitted comments regarding that rule change detailing the importance of local coordination and clarification of regulations. The 2021 proposed changes address agency procedures for implementing NEPA regulations, the definition of “effects” and the propose and need of proposed actions. NACD submitted comments on November 22, 2021, outlining where the organization stands on NEPA regulations.
|
NACD ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION GRANTS |
As urban and community agriculture continue to grow in importance for clients of conservation districts, NACD is proud to continue our partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in the delivery of our Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative.
We are again accepting applications for up to $50,000 to support projects that promote the delivery of conservation technical assistance in urban and community-oriented settings, including for projects that serve rural populations. See the full RFP online, with applications due Jan. 31, 2022, 11:59 p.m. local time.
To encourage districts who may be interested in starting urban agriculture conservation programs, but are not certain how to get started, NACD has created a new funding stream through the UAC grants for Fiscal Year 2022. Districts may apply for up to $10,000 through these new UAC planning grant, to begin early-stage program development. Districts may also apply for up to $50,000 for the traditional UAC grants, now called UAC implementation grants.
With over 100 example projects already completed or active in 35 states (see NACD’s Story Map), conservation districts have provided technical assistance to urban and smallholder farmers on soil health, pollinators and biodiversity conservation, native plants, irrigation and water management, and a variety of other technical topics.
For example, San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in New Mexico developed the Farm Farmington! project, to provide planning for installing raised beds, water storage, soil health and other activities for survivors of domestic violence and their families, as well as other partners and community gardeners. Likewise, Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District in Nebraska focused their grant on a demonstration site that focused on maintaining profitability while improving soil health, increasing awareness of the importance of pollinator habitat, and providing a community garden for the citizens of York.
Interested UAC applicants may also attend an upcoming Information Session on Dec. 14, 2021, 4 p.m. Eastern. NACD Leadership and past grantees will present on the program and previous projects and will also be available to answer any questions from applicants. Come prepared with questions after reviewing the RFP and past grantee projects.
|
U&C DEC. WEBINAR WILL EXPLAIN COLLABORATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT |
Over the past three years Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Indiana has developed a cooperative invasive species management area (CISMA) in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasive Management (SICIM). Currently, 34 CISMAs are active, thanks to efforts by SICIM, partners and citizens develop CISMAs in every county in Indiana.
During the December Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. Eastern, Claire Lane from Hamilton County SWCD, Dawn Slack from The Nature Conservancy and Indiana Invasives Initiative, and Stephanie Schuck from SICIM will present on their collaborative efforts to manage invasive species in Indiana. Through these collaborative efforts, Hamilton County SWCD and their partners host educational events, manage an invasive species trade-in program, and provide boots-on-the-ground technical assistance to remove invasive species. Join the district and their partners in this webinar to learn more about their programs and the exciting and positive steps Indiana is taking to address the negative impacts of invasive species on our lands, waters and wildlife.
NACD’s Urban and Community Conservation webinar series, sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, highlights programs related to urban and community conservation, outreach to underrepresented clients, small-scale natural resource concerns, stormwater management and other related themes.
Learn more about this webinar, view recordings of past U&C webinars, and submit a webinar proposal on our website. |
RAE RELEASES REPORT ON ECONOMIC VALUE OF AMERICA'S ESTUARIES |
Many conservation districts (CD) conduct activities related to coastal conservation; recently NACD’s partner, Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), released a comprehensive report on the Economic Value of America’s Estuaries which may provide further support for the related work of CDs.
The report is provides an update to RAE’s 2008 report, which focused on the state of estuaries in the U.S. at the time. This updated 2021 version assigns a dollar value to estuaries and coastal wetlands for the services they provide in protecting coastal communities, while also enumerating their benefits for sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change. In addition to expanding on these values nationwide, the report also provides six region specific case studies, each of which further emphasize the critical coastal habitats for various areas in the U.S.: Great Egg Harbor, N.J.; Pamlico Sound, N.C.; Tampa Bay, Fla.; Terrebonne Basin, La.; San Pablo Bay, Calif.; and Snohomish Estuary, Wash.
Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of RAE, recently provided a presentation on the report during NACD’s monthly urban and community conservation webinars, detailing some of RAE’s significant findings during their research. NACD CEO Jeremy Peters will also participate in an upcoming webinar with RAE. On Dec. 9, 2021, 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern, Peters will provide examples of conservation district activities under the farm bill that have directly contributed to coastal conservation. Partners from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will also join the session to provide additional examples of coastal conservation activities.
Watch the recent Urban & Community webinar with RAE on NACD's YouTube page. Register for RAE’s Farm Bill and Coastal Conservation webinar online for free here. |
|
NACD Welcomes New Director of Communications |
On Monday, Nov. 29, NACD welcomed Rebecca Cisco as the new Director of Communications.
Cisco comes to NACD from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), where she served as the Communications Director. While at IDES, Cisco oversaw the implementation of the Department’s strategic communications, particularly as it related to unemployment insurance benefits at the height of the pandemic. Prior to her time at IDES, Cisco served in a number of roles within Illinois state government, including the Illinois Governor’s Office, the Illinois Treasurer’s Office and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
Cisco is an alumna of the University of Illinois, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Communication and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She also played two years of college basketball and one year of college softball.
Cisco is based in the Washington, D.C. office and can be contacted at
|
Last Call for Friends of NACD District Grant Applications |
Eligible conservation districts still have time to apply for a Friends of NACD District Grant. Eight conservation districts will receive up to $2,500 to support new and innovative program activities.
Conservation districts may view the complete request for proposals (RFP) on the Friends of NACD District Grants webpage, and apply through the online application form by 11:59 p.m., local time on Nov. 30, 2021. Awards will be announced at NACD’s 2022 Annual Meeting.
The Friends of NACD District Grant program is made possible by the contributions individuals and organizations make to the Friends of NACD program.
|
Last Call for Applications: NACD + AFA Sustainability Institute |
NACD and Agriculture Future of America (AFA) are hosting a Sustainability Institute in conjunction with NACD's Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., February 13-15, 2022.
The AFA + NACD Sustainability Institute will provide an immersive experience for up to 50 undergraduate college students and showcase career paths in conservation, agriculture and natural resources management.
Students interested in attending the institute are selected through an application process. Applications are due by Dec. 1, 2021.
|
Last Chance to Submit a Poster or Photo Contest Entry |
This is the last chance to submit your state winning posters and photos before the Dec. 1, 2021 deadline to give your students the chance to compete in NACD's National Photo and Poster Contest and have their art recognized and displayed at NACD's Annual Meeting.
The annual poster contest is open to students K-12 and celebrates the 2021 Stewardship theme “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities”
The national photo contest is open to all amateur photographers who reside in the U.S. or its territories. Submissions for both contests are due this Wednesday, Dec. 1.
|
First-Timer Scholarships Available for NACD's 2022 Annual Meeting |
NACD's 76th Annual Meeting will be held in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 12-16, 2022, at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs Resort.
If you haven’t attended an NACD annual meeting in the past, you may be eligible for a first-timer scholarship! Thanks to the generous support of AgriDrain Corporation, NACD will once again be offering selected first-timers complimentary meeting registration and a ticket to Tuesday night’s Appreciation Banquet.
Only one person per state or territory may receive a scholarship. Once a state or territory association selects a scholarship recipient in cooperation with their NACD board member, they are asked to send the recipient’s name and email address to NACD Director of Membership Terrence Curtiss at terrence-curtiss@nacdnet.org before Jan. 21, 2022, to complete their registration.
|
Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events!
|
|
