GIVE BACK TO CONSERVATION FOR GIVING TUESDAY

This Giving Tuesday, give back to conservation by becoming a Friend of NACD. Friends of NACD are individuals who support the nation’s nearly 3,000 conservation districts through donations to NACD. Individuals contribute at four donation levels (between $35 to $1500), with each level entitling members to specific benefits.

Your donation will directly support conservation districts through the Friends of NACD District Grants Program. Since Fiscal Year 2020, Friends of NACD have awarded over $76,000 in grant funding to 31 districts across the country. 

Projects supported by Friends of NACD help their communities with conservation services, educational efforts, and community building events. Donations to Friends of NACD have allowed districts to develop an outdoor classroom, build a soil trailer, implement an agroforestry demonstration project, construct a pollinator protection program, and more. Read about these and other projects on NACD's blog.

Looking to support conservation education even further? Consider donating to NACD's sister organization, the National Conservation Foundation (NCF).  NCF manages conservation education programs, NCF-Envirothon and the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI), for students and adults to prepare the next generation of natural resource protectors.

Through these programs, students, volunteers, and conservation professionals come together to learn, grow, and harvest relationships. The programs teach practical skills crucial for the participants' leadership journey. To continue programs like these, NCF relies on conservation champions like you. 

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

LINEUP OF 2025 BREAKOUT SESSIONS ANNOUNCED

Have you heard the buzz? NACD wants you to join us at the 2025 Annual Meeting! Hosted in partnership with the Utah Association of Conservation Districts, next year's meeting will take place in Salt Lake City, UT, from February 8-12, 2025. Join us in the Beehive State to explore the theme "Bee the Change: Reaching New Summits in Conservation!"

Only one month left to claim the early-bird discount! Register before December 20 to save up to $130 per person. If you have never attended an NACD annual meeting in the past, you may be eligible for a first-timer scholarship!

Explore the Breakout Sessions

The agenda for Annual Meeting includes a selection of breakout sessions hosted by conservation districts and partners. From green infrastructure and restoration programs to outreach initiatives and new partnerships, these sessions provide a wealth of information about the agriculture world and the groundbreaking work from people across the nation. NACD’s breakout sessions are some of the most popular activities among meeting attendees and provide a platform for districts to share their initiatives with one another, so plan to join a few during the meeting! Explore the full lineup of sessions here.

Ready to book?

All the details on registration and exclusive hotel and travel discounts, including special discounted airfare with Delta Airlines, can be found on NACD's Annual Meeting webpage. If you have any questions or want to be a sponsor for the event, contact events@nacdnet.org. We can't wait to bee in SLC with you!

NORTHEAST MID-ATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP FOR FORESTS AND WATER HOSTS FORUM

The Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests and Water recently convened a forum in Hamden, Connecticut, bringing together 90 participants, including conservation districts, water utilities, state forestry agencies, nonprofits, and other partners, showcasing partners' collaborative efforts. Attendees represented a diverse network dedicated to advancing forested watershed restoration, demonstrating the strength of the Partnership’s shared vision and goals.

The event featured a hands-on field trip highlighting innovative practices in forest and water management, such as sediment detention basins, slash walls for deer exclusion, and non-chemical invasive plant management. These examples illustrated practical strategies for improving water quality and ecosystem resilience while addressing challenges like invasive species and public perception of forest management.

Participants explored the critical role of forests in water quality, focusing on strategies like forest management for groundwater recharge, surface water protection, and biodiversity enhancement. Discussions emphasized leveraging federal funding, fostering partnerships, and prioritizing land conservation to protect water supplies. Tools such as watershed and parcel prioritization mapping were highlighted as valuable resources for local decision-making.

The workshop also spotlighted ongoing efforts in Connecticut to restore 50 acres of riparian buffers in priority watersheds and collaborative education efforts in Ohio and West Virginia. These projects reflect the Partnership’s mission to align forest management with water quality objectives, engaging stakeholders across the region. The event concluded with actionable next steps, including enhancing training opportunities, bolstering partnerships, and continuing structured dialogues to strengthen regional collaboration.

The Partnership website, newsletter, and growing compendium of resources can be found here.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

This week, lawmakers return to Capitol Hill to focus on developing legislation to extend federal funding, further extend the 2018 Farm Bill, and consider providing disaster relief before the end of the year. Congress is expected to pass an additional short-term extension of current federal funding before the December 20 deadline, along with an extension of the farm bill, which is required before the end of the calendar year to reauthorize some USDA programs.

This month, Congress is also considering legislation to support communities damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton. This week, NACD sent a letter requesting Congress provide support for these communities before the end of the year. NACD is urging lawmakers to integrate all remaining IRA conservation investments into an end-of-the-year package, which would permanently increase funding for USDA conservation programs like EQIP, CSP, and RCPP. The amount available to convert to long-term funding for these programs decreases drastically if it is not passed before the end of the year.

President-Elect Donald Trump nominated Jamieson Greer to serve as the next U.S. Trade Representative, a role responsible for developing United States foreign trade policies. Greer served as Chief of Staff to this position in the last Trump Administration. Read NACD's Transition Letter to President-Elect Trump here.

Reminder: NRCS released a Request for Information for Conservation Practices to Support Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. This request specifically asks for input on flexibility, innovation, and appropriate modeling for determining effective Conservation Practice Standards. The deadline for response is December 23, 2024. NACD will be submitting a response and would appreciate input from members. Please contact Libby Wawro (libby-wawro@nacdnet.org) with any thoughts or questions by December 13, 2024.

TONTO NRCD: DRIVING CONSERVATION THROUGH GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY

Located in Arizona's scenic Gila County, the Tonto Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) plays a key role in conserving the Tonto National Forest, which spans nearly 2.9 million acres and serves as a vital ecological and economic resource. With most of the land in the district under federal ownership, Tonto NRCD focuses on sustainable management practices, educational outreach, and innovative collaborations to address local and national conservation challenges.

Federal lands dominate the district, limiting opportunities to directly assist private landowners. Historically, the district has concentrated on educational programs, emphasizing the importance of ranching, agriculture, and effective land management to support wildlife habitat, watershed health, and environmental sustainability. Programs like the Ag Awareness Program, Noxious Weed Program, Livestock Nutrition School, and Range Management and Monitoring Workshops reach local residents, students, and stakeholders, fostering stewardship and understanding of natural resource management.

The district has recently benefited from policy changes allowing NRCS programs to operate on USDA Forest Service lands. This shift has enabled the district to pursue significant rangeland improvements, such as pipelines, windmills, spring developments, solar pumping systems, and wildlife-friendly fencing. These projects enhance grazing management, maintain wildlife corridors, and improve water availability. Notably, Tonto NRCD locally administered a grant from the Arizona Department of Energy to help farmers and ranchers convert fossil fuel-based systems to renewable energy sources, delivering benefits like cost savings, improved air quality, and job creation.

Through the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), Tonto NRCD collaborates with the USDA Forest Service to tackle restoration efforts that amplify the impact of federal resources. Recent projects include installing wildlife-friendly fencing in the Tonto National Forest to balance prescribed grazing with the preservation of wildlife migration corridors. By leveraging local expertise and securing matching funds, Tonto NRCD demonstrates how partnerships can drive large-scale conservation initiatives that benefit both the environment and local communities.

Other districts across Arizona are also engaging in transformative conservation efforts. These efforts aim to reduce wildfire risk, improve watershed health, and protect critical wildlife habitats, showcasing the power of partnerships in achieving landscape-level conservation.

Programs like GNA and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) exemplify the pivotal role conservation districts play in addressing pressing ecological challenges. Tonto NRCD and its peers deliver impactful solutions by tailoring conservation strategies to local needs, supporting producers and wildlife, and fostering sustainable land management practices.

Read more about this project on NACD's blog. For forestry stories like this delivered monthly, subscribe to the Forestry Notes newsletter.