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 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs to operate on 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 U.S. 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. For instance, the Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD), the non-profit state association that represents all  42 conservation districts across the state, recently partnered with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management to secure $24.5 million through the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This ambitious initiative will restore 35,000 acres in the Colorado River Basin by implementing climate-smart practices such as invasive species removal and grassland restoration. 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 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. 

To learn more about Tonto NRCD’s initiatives and how they contribute to Arizona’s conservation landscape, visit Tonto NRCD at https://www.aacd1944.com/tonto. More information about Arizona’s districts and their programs can be found here.