Conservation in Montana: The Chance of a Lifetime 07/14/2017
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MDNRC) has recently published three stories on Montana farmers and ranchers who have devoted a great deal of time and energy to conservation work. NACD would like to thank Linda Brander, a resource specialist for the Conservation Districts Bureau within MDNRC, for the opportunity to republish this story on our blog. Story by John Grassy…… Continue reading →
Conservation in Montana: Endecott Ranch 06/16/2017
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MDNRC) has recently published three stories on Montana farmers and ranchers who have devoted a great deal of time and energy to conservation work. In the series' first story (featured below), we meet Janet Endecott of McAllister, Montana. NACD would like to thank Linda Brander, a resource specialist for the Conservation Districts Bureau within MDNRC,…… Continue reading →
Interior secretary asks for review of greater sage-grouse conservation plans 06/08/2017
By Chris Heck On Wednesday, June 7, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke signed a secretarial order that charges an internal team with the review of all federal and state greater sage-grouse conservation plans finalized in September 2015. The team will have 60 days to evaluate whether the federal and state plans are complementary, and if deemed appropriate, will discuss modifying…… Continue reading →
What does the rollback of BLM’s planning rule mean? 03/30/2017
By Chris Heck WASHINGTON, March 30, 2017 - The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 established a process that requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to develop resource management plans (RMPs) in cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments. The first BLM land planning process regulation was finalized by the agency in…… Continue reading →
Washington district comes to the rescue providing wildfire resources 03/21/2017
By Whitney Forman-Cook As fires wreak havoc across the Midwest and Mid-South, NACD and conservation districts are reaching out to help. One of those conservation districts is Okanogan CD of Washington state. Craig Nelson, the district’s manager, is leading an effort to bring his district’s experience and expertise in wildfire preparation and recovery to other…… Continue reading →
New Mexico celebrates 15 years of collaborative conservation 02/23/2017
By Jeff Burwell and Whitney Forman-Cook The New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD) is celebrating 15 years of Restore New Mexico, a conservation effort that has made a measurable difference in rangeland and forest health in the state. NMACD and the other partners of the Bureau of Land Management's Restore New Mexico initiative started with an ambitious…… Continue reading →
Did You Know? NACD has a Soil Health Champions Network 12/27/2016
By Beth Mason [caption id="attachment_7033" align="alignright" width="619"] Each dot on the map above represents a Soil Health Champion. Is your state represented in the Network?[/caption] In 2014, NACD received a three-year NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to promote the adoption of soil health practices across the United States. The grant has two parts: First, NACD…… Continue reading →
USDA funds new Working Lands for Wildlife projects 12/12/2016
By Eric Hansen USDA is expanding its Working Lands for Wildlife program, an NRCS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiative that has been instrumental in conserving at-risk wildlife habitat on working lands. Through Working Lands for Wildlife, NRCS focuses financial and technical assistance on private lands that support seven target species: the greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie-chicken, gopher tortoise, New England cottontail,…… Continue reading →
The truth about wild horses in the American West 11/18/2016
By Lee McDaniel and Brent Van Dyke As you may have heard by now, the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board recommended last month that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) humanely euthanize or sell (without restriction) unadoptable wild horses and burros on the western range. Perhaps you heard an activist group claim that…… Continue reading →
Silvopasture getting closer look in Southeast 08/31/2016
By Mike Beacom Dr. Alan Franzluebbers didn’t go looking for silvopasture; the practice was waiting for him. The research ecologist relocated four years ago to a position with North Carolina State University's Department of Soil Science. Having researched pasture systems for more than a decade in Georgia, Franzluebbers inherited a silvopasture study already underway at…… Continue reading →