We are only a few short weeks away from NACD's Stewardship Week! An annual program since 1955, Stewardship Week is one of the nation’s largest initiatives dedicated to promoting the conservation of natural resources. This week-long event serves as a powerful reminder of our personal responsibilities to safeguard our precious natural resources.

In 2024, as we celebrate the 69th Annual Stewardship Week from April 28 to May 5, the theme “May the Forest Be with You, Always” takes center stage. This theme underscores the critical interplay between soil and water conservation and the resilience of our forests. Forests play multifaceted roles in sustaining our planet, serving as sources of oxygen, carbon storage, and vibrant hubs of biodiversity. They function as steadfast protectors of soil and water resources, preventing erosion, purifying contaminants, and nurturing healthy watersheds.

Throughout Stewardship Week, conservation districts across the United States are invited to participate in various ways to celebrate and promote these vital natural resources. Conservation districts play a central role in outreach and education, engaging with their communities through the NACD annual poster and photo contests, by hosting field days or educating students in their classrooms, and more.

If you would like to get involved with NACD Stewardship Week, you can find an array of free educational materials here to share with students and educators around you or participate virtually through social media with our toolkit of forestry posts and captions. We also have proclamation, press release, and radio PSA templates available here. Or, shop our marketplace to find wearables and printed materials for sale, including limited edition t-shirts and posters!

In today’s context, marked by environmental challenges, resilient forests are indispensable in fostering a sustainable world. The phrase “May the Forest Be with You, Always” signifies our commitment to responsible forest stewardship, emphasizing their enduring strength and adaptability. We are asking you to celebrate Stewardship Week alongside us - online or in your local community - to show your dedication to forestry conservation and education.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

Congress has returned to D.C. after the Easter recess and is focused on several big-ticket issues. A busy schedule before the federal election season leaves Congress little time to negotiate and pass a farm bill in the coming months. While the agriculture committees are pushing to introduce bills in the coming weeks, they are still negotiating key issues related to funding in the farm bill. The progress of these negotiations will determine the timing of farm bill introductions and whether the committees will introduce partisan bills.

Last week, USDA announced the availability of $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). USDA is accepting project proposals for RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) through July 2. Project proposals for RCPP are being accepted through the RCPP portal. Details on the RCPP Classic and RCPP AFA funding opportunities are available on Grants.gov. NRCS will also be hosting webinars to provide additional information. Learn more on the RCPP website.

NRCS is also continuing efforts to improve RCPP by streamlining agreement negotiations, updating policy and business tools, delegating additional authority to State Conservationists, and more. Learn more at USDA’s RCPP website.

HOST A POLLINATORS BIOBLITZ EVENT THIS SEPT!

In September 2024, the National Recreation and Parks Association is hosting its 6th annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. Parks for Pollinators is a national campaign to raise awareness and community involvement in the pollinator crisis through local parks and recreation and like-minded organizations.

Hosting a Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz event allows communities to explore your parks, engage in environmental issues, and see how many pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants they can find — while providing your organization information to help manage your parks with biodiversity in mind. You can read about last year’s efforts here.

In years past, conservation districts have utilized NRPA resources to host a BioBlitz, helping to build local partnerships in their community and bring awareness to pollinator diversity.

Sign up now to host your own BioBlitz this September and receive all the materials you need for a successful event! By hosting an event, you are entered to win one of three $1,000 prizes or one of three prize packs from Scotts Miracle-Gro to help you further your efforts with native habitat and pollinator protection strategies.