Join NACD for the upcoming Wilds, Waters and Wildfires Virtual Sessions throughout the month of May, where we’ll host speakers discussing how disasters such as high winds, wildfires and flooding cause significant damage to natural resources in the South, North, East and West.
Conservation districts are uniquely positioned to assist communities with planning and preparedness before, during and after disasters. These sessions will demonstrate how conservation districts are working together with all community members to conquer the challenges facing private landowners. Success happens when landowners and agencies come together to meet the needs of our local communities.
These needs are identified in the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. The virtual sessions will be held over the month of May, and session dates coordinate with specific regions (West, Southeast and Northeast). Click the button below to register. For questions, please contact NACD's Natural Resource Policy Specialist Mary Scott at mary-scott@nacdnet.org.
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2021 NACD/AFA CONSERVATION CAREERS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN |
NACD and Agriculture Future of America (AFA) are working together to host the 2021 Conservation Careers Virtual Workshop, scheduled to be held from June 13-15, 2021.
The NACD/AFA Conservation Careers Virtual Workshop will provide a unique experience for up to 50 undergraduate college students and showcase career paths in conservation, agriculture and natural resources management. Students will engage with professionals from soil and water conservation districts, state conservation agencies and federal resource management partners like the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Participants will also develop leadership and communication skills from public and private sector presenters as they share their personal career journeys.
This year’s program will have a focus on forest management and regeneration. The three-evening agenda will include personal and professional skill development, as well as virtual field trips and career roundtables where participants will have one-on-one interactions with resource management professionals. The eligibility requirements and application details can be found (extra space at beginning of hyperlink à) at this link. The application deadline is May 12, 2021.
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REGISTRATION NOW
OPEN FOR VIRTUAL 2021
NCF-ENVIROTHON
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Registration for the Virtual 2021 NCF-Envirothon Nebraska competition is now open! The event, hosted by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), will be held virtually from July 25-28, 2021. In response to ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions and health concerns, the 2021 NCF-Envirothon competition will be in a completely virtual format.
The 2021 Team Registration fee is $300.00 per team (five students + one adult advisor). Teams with more than one advisor are encouraged to register the second advisor through the guest registration process. Guest registration is $50.00 per person and is open to anyone interested in attending this first-ever virtual NCF-Envirothon competition.
The Virtual 2021 NCF-Envirothon Nebraska competition will be an innovative event, with the same quality of training and testing that is a hallmark of the Envirothon program. Nebraska's ecology and natural resources will be highlighted throughout the competition, with a special focus on "Water Resource Management: Local Control and Local Solutions" as the Current Issue.
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SPACE AVAILABLE:
APRIL U&C WEBINAR
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The next NACD Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Eastern on April 15, 2021, will feature the West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA)'s Soil Trailer.
Come hear from Aimee Figgatt, WVCA’s outreach specialist, as she describes this ADA-accessible mobile classroom. Inspired by the Kansas Soil Tunnel Trailer, the West Virginia Soil Trailer is a learning unit for soil, water, agricultural specialty crops and non-point source pollution. Inside the trailer, visitors can learn about soil health, water quality, malfunctioning septic systems, and a variety of other topics relevant to their local ecosystems.
These popular webinars, held on the third Thursday of each month, are sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation in partnership with the NACD Urban and Community Resource Policy Group. There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To register, click here. If you have difficulty, please contact NACD Pacific Region Representative Ariel Rivers.
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In 2020, together with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), NACD awarded funding through the Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative to the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (WCSWCD) in upstate New York.
Through the grant, WCSWCD and Warrensburg Community Garden members implemented best management practices (BMPs) to improve soil health and promote water quality at their community garden along Schroon River in Warrensburg.
This project also focused on creating demonstration beds for learning about establishing long-term and short-term plots, testing for trace metals, and soil health analysis for improved production and utilizing tools to promote soil health. A three-tiered composting system that would allow gardeners to produce their own compost onsite, a 250-square-foot hedgerow planted with New York natives and modeled after the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Practices standard, and cover cropping were among the many practices demonstrated on site.
In between all the new farm practices being demonstrated, the district offered workshops that discussed soil conservation practices such as no-till, mulching, cover cropping, nutrient management, crop rotation and pest management.
“Despite the challenges of hosting most of the workshops virtually, we still managed to reach many community members of Warrensburg that are considered low-income in the urbanized areas of Warrensburg,” said Maren Alexander, district technician. “The community garden was a great location, as community members discovered a space to grow vegetables where they may not have had the ability or necessary resources to do so on their own property.”
Promoting the implementation for best management practices for soil conservation will continue to be a priority for the district. Offering this grant at the Warrensburg Community Garden opened up new approaches to promote soil conservation for many of the gardeners, and the grant opened new avenues for the district to work closely with a variety of partners.
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How Will
You Celebrate Stewardship Week?
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Join us in celebrating the 2021 theme “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities” by hosting a socially-distanced and/or virtual event such as a forestry webinar or delivering a PowerPoint presentation for your conservation district's poster contest.
If your district has an activity planned for Stewardship Week, please let us know! Email
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WICD Seeks
District Manager
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The Whidbey Island Conservation District (CD) is seeking a full-time district manager.
The district manager will be responsible for overall management of the district's work and staff, and will be based out of Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Wash.
To learn more and apply, click here. Applications are due on or before May 3, 2021.
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New "Cover Crops and Soil Health" Video from SARE |
The newest episode of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education’s (SARE) “What is Sustainable Agriculture” animation series illustrates how producers can use cover crops to improve productivity and sustainability.
In just a few short minutes, the episode, titled “Cover Crops and Soil Health,” outlines how cover crops can build soil structure, protect water quality, suppress pests, and improve a farm’s bottom line. Check it out, here. |
SHI Seeks Environmental Analyst |
The Soil Health Institute (SHI) is seeking a project scientist for a one-year contract to help provide deliverables for soil sampling and analyses of soil carbon stocks.
The scientist will lead deployment of pilot projects located in multiple states and will be part of a team of scientists at SHI that is geographically dispersed.
Though SHI headquarters is in Morrisville, N.C., the
successful candidate is not required to relocate for this job. To learn more and apply, click here. |
Pollinator Week Shirts Now Available |
Pollinator Partnership (P2)'s limited-edition Pollinator Week shirts are here!
This year, P2 has t-shirts in five different colors and a long-sleeved tee featuring a design inspired by the 2010 “World of Pollinators” poster illustrated by Steve Buchanan.
Learn more and order your shirt here. |
Help Establish USDA’s Rural Energy Pilot Program |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking input to help develop options for the Rural Energy Pilot Program. Specifically, the agency wants to hear how this new program could support the nation’s critical energy needs and combat climate change while advancing environmental justice, racial equity and economic opportunity using renewable energy.
USDA is seeking written comments and will host
a public listening session on April 22 to solicit input. USDA is also offering an optional webinar on April 16 to introduce partners, stakeholders and networks to existing USDA energy programs and to share additional information about how to engage and provide feedback on the pilot program. Learn more here.
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Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events!
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