NACD Reports
State Report Write-Up
To complete the state report write-up, click here.
Community Wildfire Desk Guide (2022)
The NACD Community Wildfire Desk Guide and Toolkit are designed to be simple aids for use by conservation districts, resource conservation and development councils and extension professionals. The desk guide details strategic activities these stakeholders can use prior to, during and after wildfire; while the toolkit provides real world examples and thorough explanations of these activities.
America’s Conservation Delivery System (2021)
This document, made in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for NACD’s 75th anniversary, describes America’s Conservation Delivery System (CDS) using a historical perspective.
NACD Technical Assistance Grants: A summary of year one activity (January 2020)
In 2017, NACD entered into the first of a series of cooperative agreements with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide funding to further enhance conservation district technical assistance across the nation. This report details the success of the first year of technical assistance grants.
Soil Health and Weather Extremes (June 2019)
In February 2019, two groups of NACD Soil Health Champions gathered at the 73rd NACD Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, for a focus group discussion on how soil health practices have impacted their operations in the face of extreme weather patterns. This focus group and resulting report, created in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides an overview of the participating producers’ testimony.
Northeast Region Capacity Building Pilot Project Report (April 2018)
In April 2018, representatives from across the conservation partnership in the Northeast met to examine their current activities and assets as a region, sharing their best practices and discussing their visions for the future. At the end of the meeting, the group developed eight action plans to strengthen the conservation partnership and drive the region forward. This report lays out the full process followed and the action plans that participants developed and includes the best practices of each of the Northeastern states.
Case Studies Show Economic Benefits of Using Soil Health Practices (August 2017)
On-farm case studies conducted by NACD and Datu Research have found corn and soybean farmers who use cover crops and/or no-till can improve their bottom lines by over $100 per acre. You can read about the economic and soil health benefits of using these conservation practices in the four case studies linked above, or click here to read more of the report overview. To request a copy of the parent report, contact Director of Communications Sara Kangas.
Forest Health and Wildfires: The Role of Conservation Districts (March 2017)
The frequency and intensity of wildfires has increased across the United States almost like clockwork. In their wake, these fires leave deteriorated soils, increased flooding risk, unproductive forests and communities forced to rebuild. Knowing the best work is done locally, NACD, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, conducted five forest health listening sessions across the western United States. This white paper chronicles the voices of district officials and partners who participated in these sessions.
Blueprint for Locally-Led Conservation: A Strategy for District Success and Sustainability (July 2016)
Conservation districts have been challenged to adapt to the needs of landowners, managers and communities at a time when resource needs are changing dramatically. This document is a guidance and reference tool for districts that lays out the building blocks for fostering district success and sustainability.
Friends of the Forest (May 2016)
This 32-page booklet highlights the findings of NACD’s most recent comprehensive survey of conservation district forestry activities. It includes a collection of detailed forestry success stories from around the country.
Locally Led Disaster Response – Wildfire Briefing (March 2016)
Wildfire briefing given by Craig Nelson, district manager for the Okanogan Conservation District, at NACD’s 2016 Spring Fly-In.
Helping Underserved Clients (June 2014)
As the local partner in the delivery of conservation services over eight decades, America’s conservation districts have become experts at assessing and addressing local priorities and needs. This report focuses on a distinctive area of district work: providing services to what are referred to as traditionally underserved clients, or cooperators.
Is a water quality certainty program in your state’s future? (April 2014)
A primer to help you decide if a water quality certainty program is in your state’s future.
Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: Adaptation Recommendations (April 2013)
This report from 25×25 presents a variety of pathways for building and strengthening climate change resilience in our nation’s agriculture and forestry systems through research, production systems and practices, risk management and outreach. Rather than being offered as a definitive set of adaptation recommendations, this report’s intent is to spark a national dialogue on the steps needed to prepare for climate change.
Certainty Programs for Landowners and Producers (September 2012)
This report explores four state-based programs that seek to improve water quality and provide agricultural producers and landowners some degree of regulatory certainty for adopting best-management practices in their operations. State certification programs have enrolled thousands of agricultural producers in several states. Programs in Michigan, New York, Louisiana and Texas have common ground in several areas.
Large Landscape Conservation (July 2012)
This paper explores the potential advantages and successes of large landscape conservation initiatives and examines some of the challenges this approach poses across multiple conservation goals.
Chesapeake’s Conservation Challenge: Much Has Been Accomplished, More to be Done (July 2012)
An analysis of lessons learned from efforts to improve the health of America’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay.
Rangelands Survey: NACD Maps Version | USFS Maps Version (March 2012)
At the end of 2010, NACD entered into a working relationship with the U.S. Forest Service’s Rangelands Management Office. As part of this partnership, the two organizations developed a survey to gauge the rangeland and pastureland work being accomplished by conservation districts around the country.
Conservation Benefits: Putting Value Where It Belongs (April 2011)
Efforts to attach economic value to conservation are focusing new attention on the full range of costs and benefits associated with conservation work done across the country. Researchers, government agencies and the private sector are all engaged in various activities designed to tie market values to conservation work. This report serves as a survey of these efforts on America’s private lands.
Conservation Districts: Your Community’s Gateway to Natural Resource Conservation (April 2010)
Everyone can agree on one thing: no single conservation program or piece of comprehensive legislation can fully address the needs of local communities across the country. This is especially true of natural resources conservation. Read this report to learn more about how conservation districts can lead the charge to ensure their communities’ natural resource concerns are fully addressed.
Conservation Recipes for the 21st Century (March 2010)
Changing land use and demographics in rural America, along with changing trends in agriculture and forestry, have made for a more diverse client base and a longer list of product and service demands for conservation districts. This report, developed in partnership with NRCS, outlines opportunities for engaging a broader array of customers and providing more complex information than ever before.
The USDA Farm Bill: What is in it for Woodland Owners (January 2010)
The 2008 Farm Bill greatly expanded opportunities for woodland owners to participate in USDA programs. A broad coalition of forestry partners worked to expand this legislation and has now produced this guide to help woodland owners become better acquainted the technical and financial assistance programs they may now be eligible for.
Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats (Winter 2009)
When we develop environmentally conscious habits, we also inspire others around us to do the same. This feature story highlights how conservation districts can help create healthy habitats by encouraging these sort of habits in your community.
Low Impact Development: Put a ‘LID’ on it (Fall 2009)
Many consider low impact development (LID) a more resource-friendly alternative to conventional stormwater practices. Read our feature story from the fall 2009 edition of The Resource to learn about LID and what roles districts can play in supporting it.
Establishing Relationships with Lawmakers (Summer 2009)
A key to impactful grassroots advocacy is building relationships with lawmakers and their staff. Lawmakers are always interested in hearing from constituents, and conservation district officials possess a great deal of influence and credibility when it comes to natural resources management and programs. This feature story includes some valuable resources that can be used to develop and maintain strong relationships with decision makers at all levels.
Markets, Trading and Credits: New Opportunities for Conservation Districts (Spring 2009)
Trading markets can give economic value to natural resources conservation and serve as an economic driver for the implementation of conservation practices. Many of these emerging markets deal in credits that conservation districts have been helping landowners generate through conservation practices for years. This feature story explores possible market-based conservation opportunities for districts.
Market-Based Conservation Initiatives White Paper (December 2008)
Market-based solutions to natural resource challenges are emerging as public and private entities continue to seek improvements in air, soil and water quality. This paper seeks to offer insights on market-based engagement opportunities for conservation districts, NRCS field staff and other interested conservation practitioners. While market-based initiatives are not magic bullets in and of themselves, they can be important additions to existing conservation strategies and initiatives.
Districts Thriving in Challenging Times (Winter 2008)
Listening to the news, you might be inclined to say conservation is facing challenging times. But conservation districts are up to the task. This report features a series of case studies on districts who have led the way in conserving natural resources for our future.
Outreach and Communication, Making the Connection Count (Fall 2008)
Communicating the capacity of conservation districts to solve natural resources issues is one of the most important roles districts have. This feature story provides tools to help make your district’s and state association’s communication and outreach efforts count.
Time to Talk: Who Will Own the Family Woodlands? (November 2008)
Published in the November 2008 edition of Forestry Notes, this four-page guide offers families support as they begin to talk about the next generation of woodland ownership.
Our Land, Our Water: Case Studies in Local Successes (November 2008)
This report highlights 25 watershed- or community-scale projects led by conservation districts. The 56-page publication was produced by NACD in cooperation with NRCS.
Partnering for Wildlife Feature Story (September/October 2007)
In addition to traditional partners, many other groups are eager to team up with districts to make improvements on private land that lead to increased wildlife habitat. Read this feature story from NACD’s fall 2007 edition of The Resource to learn about the organizations you can work with to obtain funding, equipment and greater visibility for your wildlife habitat enhancement project.
Conservation Districts’ Role in Implementing National Fire Plan (May 2007)
This publication takes a second look at the role of conservation districts in implementing the National Fire Plan. It was produced by NACD in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Interior Department to provide conservation districts with a tool to motivate and educate their communities about mitigating the impacts of wildfires.
Energy Conservation Opportunities in Agriculture (May 2007)
This report highlights the ways in which today’s agricultural producers are changing their management practices to conserve energy, reduce energy use, and generate energy from renewable sources.
Homegrown Energy: America’s New Power Plants (2007)
The way we farm is rapidly changing in rural America, and agricultural policy needs to change with it. Leading the way for change is clean, renewable biofuels. This report discusses renewable energy and the roles today’s agricultural producers can play in the energy industry.
Renewable Energy (November/December 2006)
This News and Views (predecessor to The Resource) feature is all about renewable energy. It explores the different sources of renewable energy and its future potential, in addition to offering district stories about renewable energy operations.
Working Together: Tools for Helping Imperiled Wildlife on Private Lands (December 2005)
NACD and a number of partners worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to compile this “wildlife toolbox” brochure. From explanations of Habitat Conservation Plans to a definition of Safe Harbor agreements, this publication provides basic, “must-have” knowledge for private landowners.