SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ANNUAL MEETING

If you have never 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 to the 2025 NACD Annual Meeting. Only one person per state or territory may receive a scholarship, and chosen individuals must stay in the NACD room block at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City.

Scholarships are limited to a select number of individuals, first come, first served, and only conservation district board members are eligible. Each state or territory may select the candidate for the scholarship according to their own preferences and processes. Interested candidates should reach out to the NACD board member in their state or the state association executive director to express their interest in receiving the 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 Engagement Dr. Ariel Rivers at ariel-rivers@nacdnet.org. Only names sent by either the NACD state board member or state association executive director will be accepted for nomination for the scholarship. Dr. Rivers will notify the state-level leadership if the candidate has been accepted for a scholarship. NACD will complete the registration on behalf of the individual, but individuals are responsible for organizing and coordinating their own travel.

NCF KICKS OFF FALL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

NACD's sister organization, the National Conservation Foundation (NCF), has kicked off their fall fundraiser and is asking for your support! NCF manages conservation education programs for students and adults to prepare the next generation of natural resource protectors.

This year, NCF welcomed high school students from across the globe for the NCF-Envirothon competition. Students, volunteers, and conservation professionals came together to learn, grow, and harvest relationships that continue to flourish outside of the competition.

The Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) cohort traveled to Virginia to speak with leaders at the NACD offices on Capitol Hill. While there, they participated in media training and spent a day in the field with the West Virginia Conservation Partnership. The program is teaching practical skills crucial for the participants' leadership journey.

To continue programs like these, NCF relies on conservation champions like you. Will you help by making a tax-deductible donation today?

Show your support with a one-time or reoccurring donation. Prefer to donate by check? Print and mail us this completed form instead!

COLLEGE STUDENTS INVITED TO JOIN NACD + AFA'S SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE

Know any undergraduate students ready to take the next step in their conservation journey? Let them know to apply for NACD and Agriculture Future of America's Sustainability Institute.

The Sustainability Institute provides a deep dive into the world of conservation and natural resources. Students experience firsthand what diverse careers in this field look like, connect with industry leaders and peers, and engage in vital discussions impacting the industry. Encourage any college student with an interest in conservation, agriculture, and natural resources management to find their path here. 

The program runs alongside NACD's Annual Meeting and will be held February 9-11, 2025 in Salt Lake City, UT. Program applications are open from now until November 24, 2024.

APPLY FOR A FRIENDS OF NACD DISTRICT GRANT

NACD is still accepting applications for the 2025 Friends of NACD District Grants Program!

This year, NACD and Scotts Miracle Gro are partnering to award the 2025 grants. Now in its sixth round of funding, the Friends of NACD District Grants Program is an initiative of the NACD District and Partner Relations Committee. The 2025 program will award top-ranking applicants up to $2,500 each to conduct new activities or test novel approaches to their operations.

Requests for proposals are open through November 30, 2024.

Past grantees have implemented projects that have helped to enhance their visibility within their communities, reach new clients, and grow their partnerships. Examples include an Arbor Day tree-planting partnership event hosted by the Rio Grande Conservation District, a 2024 grantee in Center, CO; an educational outreach program to increase invasive species awareness led by the Clark County Soil and Water Conservation District in Indiana, a 2022 grantee; and the Start Farming Mentorship Program started by the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District, a 2021 grantee in Jacksonville, Florida.

Consider becoming a member of the Friends of NACD network to further support this important grassroots effort!

Learn more about Friends of NACD and the District Grants Program and apply on NACD’s website. Any questions about the program can be directed to Caleb Griffin at caleb-griffin@nacdnet.org.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

It's Election Day! Today’s election is a pivotal moment in U.S. politics and will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, and the presidency.

In the Senate, where Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority, 34 seats are up for grabs: 20 held by Democrats, 11 by Republicans, and 3 by independents (all of whom caucus with the Democrats).

In the House of Representative, all 435 congressional districts will hold elections, many of which are expected to be tightly contested. Republicans currently control the House with a slim majority.

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION TEAMS IN CALIFORNIA

In June 2024, a comprehensive report was released detailing the successes and challenges of the Emergency Forest Restoration Teams (EFRTs) developed in late 2021. These pilot teams emerged as a vital response to the increasing severity of wildfires impacting California’s forests, specifically in the aftermath of the Dixie, Caldor, and Tamarack Fires. The formation of EFRTs was a key recommendation from the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, which sought to create collaborative strategies to assist non-industrial private landowners in restoring their forests after devastating wildfires.

Conservation districts have long been instrumental in promoting sustainable land use practices and addressing the unique challenges faced by local communities. The EFRT initiative serves as an exemplary model of how conservation districts can mobilize resources and expertise to support landowners in times of crisis. By facilitating collaboration among state and federal agencies, local governments, and private stakeholders, conservation districts play a crucial role in restoring landscapes affected by wildfires.

The EFRTs were designed to provide targeted assistance to landowners who often lack the necessary funding, expertise, or time to undertake restoration work after catastrophic wildfires. Recognizing these barriers, the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan called for the establishment of EFRTs. This initiative was aimed at ensuring that affected landowners could access the resources they need to restore their properties and mitigate further damage to their homes, lives, and the surrounding ecosystem.

Three pilot EFRTs were launched in response to the 2021 wildfires: one focusing on the Dixie Fire, another on the Caldor Fire, and the last on the Tamarack Fire. Local organizations, including the Feather River Resource Conservation District (RCD), El Dorado County/Georgetown Divide RCD, and Alpine County, took the lead in organizing these teams and developing new assistance programs tailored to the specific needs of their communities.

Environmental review and monitoring of the implementation of these projects were conducted by the local lead agencies to ensure compliance with regulations and the effectiveness of restoration efforts. This emphasis on local leadership underscores the vital role that conservation districts play in disaster response and ecosystem restoration.

The three pilots encountered varying degrees of complexity in their permitting processes. While some used California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for treatments, others had to navigate additional reviews for planting and herbicide applications, complicating the implementation process. Conservation districts can advocate for streamlined permitting processes that support efficient restoration efforts while ensuring regulatory compliance.

The report prepared by the University of California Cooperative Extension presents a synthesis of lessons learned from the pilot EFRTs based on extensive interviews with professionals involved in the projects. Some key findings include:

• Success in Delivering Post-Fire Treatments
• Timely Funding and Support
• Prioritization of Treatment Areas
• Importance of Clear Communication
• Integration with Commercial Salvage Logging
• Collaboration with Other Agencies

The establishment of Emergency Forest Restoration Teams represents a significant step toward addressing the challenges posed by wildfires in California. By providing targeted assistance to small landowners, these teams are helping to restore not only the forests but also the livelihoods and communities affected by these devastating events.

Conservation districts, as integral players in this landscape, are crucial to the success of these efforts, demonstrating their capacity to lead collaborative initiatives that promote ecological restoration and resilience in the face of an increasing wildfire threat.

To read the full story and learn more about the key findings please visit NACD's blog. Learn more about the California Resource Conservation Districts here.