This week, NACD held the 2022 Summer Conservation Forum and Tours in conjunction with the Southeast Region Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hosted in partnership with the Puerto Rico Association of Soil Conservation Districts, this summer's meeting gathered conservation leaders from across the country to discuss natural resource concerns and innovative solutions.

The NACD Board of Directors had a several days full of productive meetings, opening on Saturday with updates and reports from President Michael Crowder, CEO Jeremy Peters, and Secretary Treasurer Gary Blair. President Crowder shared his experiences from his recent travels to the Pacific Islands Area, including Guam and Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Reinvigorating districts within the island territories and supporting their conservation development has been a goal of President Crowder throughout his term in office.

On Sunday, the board of directors heard discussion of conservation leaders during a partnership roundtable. Speakers included representatives from NRCS, the National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils, and other leaders within our conservation partnership.

Monday’s events began with a Conservation Breakfast which featured a presentation from Fernando Lloveras San Miguel, President of Para La Naturaleza. The agenda continued with our Conservation Forum. Local FFA Students from within Puerto Rico opened the session with a presentation of colors, the pledge of allegiance, the Anthem of Puerto Rico, and U.S. National Anthem. During the forum attendees heard from Dr. Bradley Doorn with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, and a panel of Caribbean Conservation Leaders. The panel included Puerto Rico Secretary of Agriculture Ramon Gonzalez Beiro, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner Positive T.A. Nelson, Dr. Anibal II Ruiz Lugo with the Extension of the College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, and Mr. Stafford Crossman with University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture.

Throughout the meeting, attendees were able to hear from conservation leaders who shared their experiences addressing changing natural resource challenges in their regions. Keynote speakers, panelists, breakout session presenters, and board members addressed the importance of partnerships to delivering successful conservation now and in the future. NACD is excited to continue fostering these partnerships in the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and across the continental United States.

Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the names of eleven individuals inducted into the 2022 NACD Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame.

“Congratulations to all the 2022 Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame inductees and their families,” said NACD Southeast Region Chair Steven Meeks. “We thank you for your passion and your commitment to conserving natural resources for future generations.”

Inductees included: Joseph Laslie Hall, Jr. of Alabama, F. Woody Snell of Georgia, Greg Stone of Kentucky, Pete Hunter of Mississippi, Franklin Williams of North Carolina, Pedro J. Fuentes Ortiz of Puerto Rico, J. Kenneth Mullis of South Carolina, John Thomas Leeman of Tennessee, Richard Chaffin and Steven Meeks of Virginia, and Dale Browne of the Virgin Islands.

Read the full announcement here.

On Tuesday, July 18, attendees of the Summer Meeting had an opportunity to explore the island of Puerto Rico through conservation tours. Groups traveled to El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service. With an average rainfall of 120 inches a year, El Yunque has a very diverse ecosystem, hosting hundreds of unique plant and animal species, including Puerto Rico’s famous coquí frog.

Others travelled through the mountains on Puerto Rico’s scenic Ruta Panoramica (“panoramic route”) to Caribe Soil Conservation District board member Milly González’s farm. Here, attendees experienced an 18-acre forest under conservation bursting with fruit trees and wildlife, and learned about a well-planned apiary with 8 beehives to learn about soil conservation and protecting pollinators.

Another group joined Para La Naturaleza for a guided trip to the Hacienda la Esperanza, located in Manatí, on the northern shore of Puerto Rico. Hacienda la Esperanza is a 19th century sugar cane hacienda with the only sugar mill steam engine of its kind in existence completely restored to operating condition. The Hacienda is located in the karst region of Puerto Rico and includes a diverse environment that incorporates farming while safeguarding wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and a crystal-clear estuary.

These tours allowed attendees to witness conservation practices on the island up close and in person, with information from local conservation leaders.

On July 13-14, 2022, NACD President Michael Crowder, President-Elect and First Vice President Kim LaFleur, and Southeast Region Representative Candice Abinanti met with partners from the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Croix. These partners included: Caribbean Area Director Luis Cruz-Arroyo from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and members of his team in St. Croix; the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture Commissioner Positive T.A. Nelson, Assistant Commissioner Diana Collingwood and staff; and several prospective board members of the forming Virgin Islands Conservation District (VICD). All convened to discuss reviving the VICD, natural resource concerns in the Virgin Islands, and opportunities to address these concerns through partnerships. Staff members of the offices of Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, and U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan also joined the conversation as the process to appoint more members to the VICD Board of Directors continues.

Later, partners visited with Dale Browne of Sejah Farm, a 15 acre farm where Browne and his wife Yvette grow organic vegetables and livestock for local markets, and conduct community outreach activities such as the annual Bush Cook: Chef Cook event to promote local cuisine and agriculture. Browne was inducted into the NACD Southeast Region Conservation Hall of Fame this year. The group also visited the ranch of 2021 NACD Distinguished Service awardee Hans Lawaetz to learn more about the Senepol cattle breed and conservation on his farm. Additional visits included to Island Fresh aquaponics and the Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve.

Have you been taking photos during the 2022 NACD Summer Meeting? We want to see them!

Email them to us at nacdnews@nacdnet.org, tag us using @NACDConserve or #NACDSummerMeeting on social media to share your photos!

Check out all of our photos from the meeting here.

Want to revisit something from a session you attended, or catch up on one you missed? You can view some of the slideshows from our general and breakout sessions here.

The 33rd Annual National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon Competition will be held July 24-30 in Oxford, OH in partnership with the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD). The NCF-Envirothon Competition challenges students in the five areas of study: aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and this year’s current issue. 

The 2022 NCF-Envirothon will spotlight the ecology and natural resources of Ohio, with a special focus on this year’s current issue of “Waste to Resources.” Students will learn about different types of waste and explore how various waste management strategies impact natural resources. Students will be challenged to examine the social, economic, and political impacts of reclaiming and repurposing waste products and degraded lands. Complete event details can be found on the Envirothon website.

Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day, or other events on NACD's Calendar of Events!