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NACD, alongside USDA NRCS, The Corps Network, and AmeriCorps recently announced the selection of host organizations for the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC), an initiative of the American Climate Corps. The WLCC will develop the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. NACD will provide participants with a virtual training program to advance careers in conservation.
“The Working Lands Climate Corps provides an opportunity for us to invest in the next generation of conservation professionals,” said NACD President Kim LaFleur. “By providing opportunities for training and experience in this field, we can strengthen the pipeline of qualified professionals entering the workforce as national investments in conservation and climate-smart agriculture increase. This is an exciting time for conservation work, and it is important that we support the next generation as they join our efforts.”
The first cohort will engage over 100 corps members serving 28 organizations in 25 states. Members will receive training in delivering critical conservation technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards. NACD congratulates all selected host organizations, especially the four selected conservation districts - the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District, Upper Salinas – Las Tablas Resource Conservation District, and White River Natural Resources Conservation District. See the full list of selected organizations here.
Applications for WLCC members are now open. Interested applicants are invited to visit the American Climate Corps website to learn more about the host organizations, training and service opportunities, and apply for over 100 jobs in the WLCC. Through their experience with host organizations, WLCC members will work with landowners, producers, and communities to encourage the adoption of climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They will also receive on-the-job training to understand outreach, education, and technical assistance strategies.
NACD will provide members with virtual trainings covering conservation concepts, practices, and systems, with a strong emphasis on locally led initiatives and developing the partnerships needed to advance landscape scale conservation and landscape-scale practices.
Read NACD's full announcement here.
|  | REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR NACD SUMMER MEETING | |
Registration is NOW OPEN for NACD's 2024 Summer Conservation Forum & Tours. Hosted this year in conjunction with the Northeast Region Meeting, the NACD Summer Meeting will be held in Boston, Massachusetts this August 9-14.
Early bird registration is only open for a limited time, so don't delay. Save $50 per person by registering now!
Hotel rooms in the NACD room block are also now available to reserve at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Room rates start at $255/night. Rooms in NACD’s room block are first come, first served and there may be limited or no availability as the deadline for the room block nears. The last day to reserve available rooms in the room block is Friday, July 19.
Experience Boston with us by joining the tours! Included in the cost of registration are an Urban Agriculture and Conservation Tour on Monday that will explore urban ag in downtown Boston and an Agriculture Conservation Tour on Tuesday that will explore agricultural education, aquaculture, and more in Plymouth County.
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Looking to add more fun to your meeting experience? Join us at the Boston Red Sox game on Friday, August 9. Meet up with colleagues at the historic Fenway Park and enjoy watching the Sox play ball with the Houston Astros. NACD has reserved 100 seats in the bleachers above the visitors bullpen for Summer Meeting attendees to enjoy the game while socializing with conservation colleagues from across the country. Tickets are available for purchase when registering.
Learn more about the Summer Meeting, see the agenda, and reserve your spot amongst the action now!
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WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE
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Last week, the chairs of the U.S. House and Senate agriculture committees released individual farm bill frameworks. NACD commends that both frameworks call to incorporate all remaining Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation investments into the conservation title and encouraged Congress to pass a farm bill as soon as possible. Legislative text of the House and Senate farm bills have not yet been released, but House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson is planning for his committee to consider a full bill on May 23. Read NACD's full statement here.
On May 6, 2024, NACD submitted comments in response to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposed changes to the management policy of the National Wildlife Refuge System. In addition to comments urging FWS to continue to work with local communities adjacent to refuge lands and consider the impact of additional red tape, NACD staff and leadership met with FWS leadership during the annual fly-in to discuss ongoing collaboration and next steps in management of these public lands. Read the comment letter here.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council is holding a public, virtual meeting on May 17, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is required on or before Monday, May 13. For information on how to participate and/or provide an oral or written statement, please contact Douglas Hobbs at doug_hobbs@fws.gov. See the full Federal Register notice for background and additional information.
| NCF LAUNCHES SPRING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN |  | |
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is asking for your support this spring! Your donation makes a difference to NCF-Envirothon participants like Wendee Dodds, an NCF-Envirothon alumna and currently the natural resources specialist for the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Ohio.
Ever since she was a child, Wendee loved the outdoors. She didn’t know how her interest in nature would translate into a career until she participated in the NCF Envirothon as a senior in high school. After attending college at Kent State, Wendee has spent more than 20 years at SWCD, where her passion for conservation has influenced a fulfilling career.
“Two things happened during my senior year of high school that helped everything fall into place – a high school outdoor class with a teacher who strengthened my passion for conservation and the outdoors and the Envirothon, an experience that truly opened my eyes about the diversity of not only natural resources but also career opportunities.”
-Wendee Dodds, Envirothon Alumni
Stories like this are familiar to us all. Please help NCF continue to foster the next generation of conservation district professionals, like Wendee, by contributing to the campaign today. Every gift helps to spring into action!
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THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL
STEWARDSHIP WEEK!
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Last week, NACD celebrated a successful 69th Annual Stewardship Week, focused around forestry and the theme "May the Forest Be With You, Always."
Throughout the week, conservation districts across the United States participated in various ways to celebrate and promote these vital natural resources. Online, social media was flooded with forestry fun facts, videos showing off local forests, and highlights from projects happening nationwide. On the ground, districts were hosting tree sales and tree planting events and educating our next generation of conservationists through classroom visits, field days, and the annual poster and photo contests. Numerous states even had formal proclamations from their Governors declaring it Stewardship Week or Conservation Districts Week.
Though our celebration is only a week long, stewardship of our natural resources is a year round effort. You can still find all our free educational materials here for download for this year's forestry topic or past topics, including healthy soils, watersheds, pollinators, and more.
If your district has any educational efforts you would like to share with us, please email info@nacdnet.org or DM us on social media @nacdconserve! We would love to keep highlighting all the amazing projects related to stewardship and education. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year's Stewardship Week out of this world.
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Join Informational Webinar on F2F Outreach Grant | |
NACD is now soliciting proposals for the next round of funding for the Historically Underserved Farmer to Farmer (F2F) Outreach Grant Program in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. To foster new collaborations and innovations, NACD seeks initiatives that address the pressing environmental challenges faced by historically underserved farming communities. Organizations with innovative proposals focused on reaching these communities within the Non-Mississippi River Drainage Region are strongly encouraged to apply and contribute to this transformative initiative.
Learn more about the program at our informational webinar on May 9 at 4 p.m. ET. Register here.
| SWCS Releases Conservation Professionals' Guide to Inclusive Delivery | |
The Soil and Water Conservation Society has released A Conservation Professionals’ Guide to Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Conservation Delivery with Historically Underserved Producers and Communities.
This guidebook is designed to be a tool conservation professionals in any sector can use to ensure their work is inclusive and equitably fulfilling the needs of historically underserved communities. It includes actionable guidance developed by stakeholders representing historically underserved communities.
Download the guide here.
| Register for 2024 Southeast Region Meeting | |
This year, the 2024 NACD Southeast Region Meeting, organized by the Florida Conservation District Employee Association, will be held in Gainesville, Florida on June 16-18, 2024 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.
Registration for this meeting is now open!
| Learn the Basics of CWSRF in Upcoming Webinar by EPA | |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to participate in a webinar to introduce the basics of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program on Wednesday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
This program is your key to one of the most robust sources of low-cost financing available for wastewater, stormwater, and many other infrastructure projects that help protect water quality. In addition to the CWSRF’s baseline funding, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested $12.7 billion into the program, a significant portion of which is provided as loan forgiveness to disadvantaged communities or projects addressing emerging contaminants.
Register here for the Introduction to the CWSRF Webinar!
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NACD sends condolences to the family and friends of Kurt Beckstrom who passed away on April 28, 2024 after a battle with cancer.
Beckstrom served six years representing Minnesota on NACD's Board, 35 years on his local Millie Lacs SWCD board, and was president of the Minnesota Association of SWCDs from 2017-2018.
Kurt was known well for his smile, positive wit, and sense of humor. We are grateful for the impact Kurt made as a leader with NACD, MASWCD, and his impact in conservation and his community.
MASWCD has made this tribute video in his memory. His full obituary can be read here.
| Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day, or other events on NACD's Calendar of Events! | |
