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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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| PACD COVID-19 resource page, region meetings continue via webinar, news from Monroe and Potter Counties, and news from NRCS and NACD. |
PACD Creates COVID-19 Resource Webpage for Members
PACD has compiled a list of resources and guidance for conservation districts from state agencies and partners during the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 Resources page is available through a button on the PACD homepage at
www.pacd.org
and directly at
https://pacd.org/?page_id=20452
. The date of each document is included for your reference. PACD will add and update materials as they are available.
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PACD Region Meetings Continuing via Webinar
PACD region meetings are still happening via the Zoom webinar platform. Four of the six regions have already met virtually with great success.
Two more region meetings are upcoming:
April 22, 2020
PACD North West Region Meeting
April 30, 2020
PACD South East Region Meeting
Thanks to our members for adapting to the webinar format for our region meetings!
Photo caption: PA Invasive Species Council Coordinator Kristopher Abell presents on Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas during the PACD North East Region Meeting on April 3, 2020.
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Monroe County Engages Community with Backyard NatureVideos
The Monroe County Conservation District's Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is engaging the community using short videos on their Facebook page (@KettleCreekEnvironmentalEducationCenter). The Center's videos have included backyard birding, salamanders, and what is blooming in your backyard. Share the Center's posts on your Facebook page or create your own! Monroe County's posts are informative and encourage engagement, such as posting photos from the reader's backyards.
Click here to view the page.
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Potter County Conservation District Holds Online Scavenger Hunt
The Potter County Conservation District (@pottercounservationdistrict) is holding an online scavenger hunt for their Facebook followers. Their virtual nature scavenger hunt challenge even includes prizes including gift cards, outdoor and gardening supplies, and more!
The district encourages its followers to enjoy the little things. Participants take photos of as many of the items as they can and share them with the district. For example, the first week's scavenger hunt items included vernal pools, snowdrops, and signs of beaver activity.
Click here to view the page.
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NRCS Invites Proposals for 2020 Conservation Innovation Grants
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania is now accepting proposals for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. It is anticipated that a total of up to $225,000 will be available to fund multiple one- to three-year projects. Single projects may be eligible to receive $5,000 to $75,000 in funding. Proposals are due by June 15, 2020.
CIG is a voluntary program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. Proposed projects should augment existing NRCS technical tools (planning, assessment/delivery) to better facilitate conservation on farms.
Applicants are encouraged to explore the complete announcement to better match their proposals to these needs. The announcement, number USDA-NRCS-PA-CIG-20-GEN0010781, can be viewed at
www.grants.gov
.
Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process and in 2020 will not include a pre-proposal process. Eligible applicants include state and local government, nongovernment organizations, qualified private businesses, and individuals. Contact your local USDA NRCS Service Center for additional information or to apply.
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Farm, Conservation, and Wildlife Groups Deliver Letter to Congress
Seventy-six leading farm, conservation, and wildlife groups delivered a letter to Congress requesting full funding for conservation programs and technical assistance in fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations.
In the letter, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), National Farmers Union (NFU), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and other signatories called upon House and Senate appropriators to maintain discretionary United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation funding and reject any cuts to farm bill conservation programs through the FY21 appropriations process.
Click here to read the letter.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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PA Association of Conservation Districts | 717.238.7223 | pacd@pacd.org | www.pacd.org
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