Conservation districts across the country continue to lead the charge on locally led conservation, bridging gaps between partners to enhance conservation outcomes, connect landscape-scale efforts, and drive greater impact where it matters most. As federal funding streams shift and traditional stewardship models evolve, districts are continuing to serve as vital local partners, critical to the success of these efforts and the long-term resilience of our natural landscapes.

Whether supporting wildfire resilience, advancing reforestation, restoring critical watersheds, or leading post-disaster recovery, districts are delivering in ways few others can. Their strength lies not only in technical expertise but in their deep-rooted relationships with landowners, community members, and agency partners. This combination positions districts to link federal and state priorities with local knowledge and action, ensuring conservation happens where it’s most needed.

Over the past year, NACD’s Forestry Notes has spotlighted just a few examples of the wide ranging, deeply impactful work conservation districts are leading in forestry across the country. These stories represent more than a look back, they reaffirm the vital, growing role that districts play in advancing forest health, resilience, and community-based stewardship. From coast to coast, districts are proving that locally led conservation is not just effective, it is essential.

In Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, Oregon, a coordinated effort to restore riparian corridors is improving water quality, forest health, and fish habitat. The district has taken a leading role in cross-boundary planning and project delivery, demonstrating how districts serve as anchors for long-term stewardship partnerships.

In North Carolina, Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District and partner districts responded to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene with strategic debris removal, workforce mobilization, and biochar development. Their work illustrates the speed and flexibility districts can bring to urgent forest recovery efforts and how they can help transition emergency response into long-term forest health strategies.

In northern California, the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County is implementing critical fuel breaks and vegetation treatments that reduce wildfire risk while protecting habitat and water resources. The district’s partnerships with CAL FIRE, local governments, and contractors underscore the value of locally led delivery in high-risk regions.

Minnesota’s conservation districts are working across county lines to build fire-resilient forests in a state more often associated with lakes than wildfire. These efforts highlight how districts are adapting forestry programs to meet changing climate and disturbance conditions, even in landscapes not historically shaped by fire.

In Arizona, Tonto Natural Resource Conservation District is demonstrating the power of Good Neighbor Authority as a tool for local implementation. The district’s agreement with the 3Forest Service and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has enabled them to deliver targeted invasive species control, native seeding, erosion stabilization, and more. These projects would not be possible without strong local coordination and commitment.

The district efforts highlighted here offer just a glimpse into the breadth and significance of forestry work being led at the local level. As conservation strategies continue to evolve and as the systems that fund and support this work shift, conservation districts remain essential to ensuring these efforts succeed. Their deep local knowledge, long-standing community relationships, and ability to deliver on-the-ground results make them indispensable partners in meeting the challenges and opportunities of this moment.

As highlighted in NACD’s 2023 feature on Good Neighbor Authority, conservation districts are becoming indispensable partners in forest stewardship, not just through GNA, but through a broad range of collaborations that help move conservation forward.

From wildfire resilience to watershed restoration, forest recovery to long-term planning, conservation districts are proving every day that local leadership is essential to the future of our forests.

To connect with and learn more about your local conservation district, please visit NACD’s Conservation District Directory.