Welcome to the NACD Southwest Region newsletter, delivering announcements and news to NACD Board Members, conservation districts, state associations and agency leadership across the Southwest. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested - they can subscribe to the mailing list on the Southwest Region Webpage.
Josh Smith, Vice Chair of the Southwest Region, NM
Jim Berlier, Executive Board Member of the Southwest Region, NM
Please reach out to Rachel with questions and newsletter content ideas.
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The aspens are already halfway through their golden show here in Buena Vista, and the deer have managed to obliterate my garden over the past few nights. Both are a sure sign that fall has arrived.
August was a big month! The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts hosted the joint Pacific/Southwest Region Meeting in Jackson, Wyoming. It was a great event! Several local policymakers also joined the meeting virtually, including Congresswoman Liz Cheney, and Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, all of whom provided important updates on key topics like the America the Beautiful Campaign (the 30x30 initiative).
Likewise, Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council, provided a thorough update on ways their organization is proactively responding to the 30x30 initiative.
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Governor Mark Gordon, himself a former conservation district supervisor in Wyoming, also joined in person to address attendees and emphasized the importance of locally led conservation and the need for conservation districts to connect with their policymakers.
While the event wasn’t without a few hiccups (I’ve learned my lesson on having that large of a group do self-introductions) it ultimately was a great success. I want to sincerely thank Hunter Petsch, Todd Heward, Austin Burkett, Cathy Rosenthal, Ariel Rivers, Mark Kuechel, Doug Rushton, all our fabulous panelists, the folks at the Teton Conservation District and our sponsors for all their work and dedication to bring this meeting to fruition.
The 2022 Southwest/Pacific Region Meeting will be held in Maui, Hawaii.
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NACD'S 2022 STEWARDSHIP WEEK MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE |
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NACD’s 2022 Stewardship and Education materials, celebrating the theme “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life,” are now available for free download through NACD's Conservation Education Hub. The development of the K-8 curriculum was made possible through the support and funding of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS conservationists provide technical expertise and conservation planning for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners wanting to make conservation improvements to their land and conserve the nation's soil, water, air and wildlife.
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NACD'S SUMMER 2021 EDITION OF THE RESOURCE IS HERE!
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- NACD's Winds, Water and Wildfires Summits
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The National Conservation Foundation (NCF)'s first virtual Envirothon, hosted by the Nebraska Association of Resource Districts (NARD)
- How NACD's Technical Assistance grants are boosting local projects
- The 2021 NACD Summer Meeting and celebration of NACD's 75th anniversary
- NCF's Next Generation Leadership Institute, which met in Chicago in July and is seeking new members for the 2022 cohort
- And more!
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Free Video Webinar Series Begins Soon |
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NACD is offering a free, two-part skills development webinar series to guide conservation district staff and members on how to create compelling videos and tell your story effectively using the equipment you already have: a mobile phone, webcam or camcorder.
Travel challenges like COVID-19 have increasingly made it necessary to conduct outreach virtually. Learn key video production best practices and troubleshooting tips from a video professional. This two-part series will include:
- Presentation of best practices for remote, independent video recording for non-professionals, including examples and situations specific to NACD members and audiences
- A “cheat sheet” of important video recording reminders and suggestions
- Live Q&A
The first webinar will be held Thursday, September 30 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern; register here for free.
The second webinar will be held Thursday, October 28 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern; register here for free.
Both webinars will be recorded and archived online at a later date.
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2021 REPI Challenge Funding Recipients Announced |
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This summer, the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program announced the 2021 REPI Challenge funding recipients.
For ten years, the REPI Challenge has funded innovative projects to protect the military mission by conserving land. Since 2012, more than $89 million in REPI Program funds have been leveraged with over $322 million in partner contributions to protect working lands, habitat and open spaces at 32 locations nationwide.
This year, the REPI Program awarded $15.6 million in program funds to be coupled with nearly $21.6 million in partner contributions to implement seven projects benefiting military installations and their communities across the country. One of these awards benefits the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, awarding $5.1 million for compatible land protection.
NACD has an agreement with the REPI Program to link conservation districts with these efforts around the country and support DoD's ability to identify and build local capacity for working lands partnerships.
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Last Chance for NGLI Applications |
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Help us recruit for the Next Generation Leadership Candidate from your state and encourage them to explore applying for NGLI. Currently-appointed conservation district officials are eligible to apply, as well as district officials with current or potential for a statewide leadership position.
Learn more about NGLI and apply here. Applications must be received by this Friday, September 24th, 2021.
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Hugh Hammond Bennett Award |
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The National Conservation Planning Partnership's (NCPP) Hugh Hammond Bennett (HHB) Award for Conservation Excellence recognizes both producers and conservation planners from within the NCPP partnership who have exemplified outstanding service through development and implementation of sound conservation planning and other conservation techniques.
One national winner in each category—producer and conservation planner—is chosen each year and recognized at the NACD annual meeting.
Learn more and submit a nomination on this web page. Nominations will close October 1, 2021.
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Sep. 27-30, 2021 - State Association Executive Directors' Conference | Asheville, N.C.
April 22 - May 1, 2022 - 67th Annual Stewardship Week: "Healthy Soil: Healthy Life"
July 15-17, 2022 - 2022 NACD Summer Meeting | San Juan, P.R.
July 24-30, 2022 - NCF - Envirothon | Oxford, Ohio
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