Recent Articles

Did you know that one of NACD’s core functions is to advocate for policies that support conservation districts and our partners at the national level? NACD maintains a policy book to inform all the legislative work NACD staff and board members carry out. Leadership uses the policy book to develop issue papers; committees and subcommittees… Continue reading →

By Nicole Poitra, NACD Northern Plains Region Representative Across Montana, foresters, conservation districts, and local leaders are coming together to spark an important conversation about the future of the state’s forests. At the center of that discussion are two longtime foresters, Jim Simpson and Gordy Sanders, who launched the effort called “Which Montana Do You… Continue reading →

By Ellie Stuckrath, NACD Communications Coordinator, and Allie Hostler, KTRCD District Coordinator When the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District (KTRCD) formed in 2007, economic development, food security, and tribal sovereignty were just as integral to their mission as natural resources conservation.    Food Hub   For KTRCD, fostering tribal food sovereignty meant creating and maintaining sustainable markets for farmers. Thus, the… Continue reading →

How one RCD forester is scaling from single landowners to landscape-level action. by the Sonoma Resource Conservation District Jason Wells never thought he’d return to Sonoma County, California, as no forestry positions existed. But after the 2017 Tubbs Fire tore through Santa Rosa, destroying over 5,000 homes, everything changed. Not only is Jason back where… Continue reading →

Did you know that NACD creates a variety of educational resources available to all districts? Did you know that most of them are completely free to use?   Chances are you’ve encountered some of these resources, as they are one of the most popular services we offer. However, you may not be aware of everything we create for you!  NACD’s education program is… Continue reading →

By Wesley X Torres Pérez, Eastern Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation Biologist The Plain Pigeon and the Puerto Rican Rock Frog are two endangered species now receiving protection thanks to a conservation initiative involving farmers and private landowners. In a pioneering environmental conservation effort, farmers and private landowners in eastern Puerto Rico are partnering… Continue reading →

Did you know that the future of conservation is being shaped by students? NACD partners with Agriculture Future of America (AFA) every year to bring 50 college students from across the country to the AFA + NACD Sustainability Institute. This three-day experience held February 15-17, 2026 brings the brightest young minds in agriculture and natural resources together for hands-on learning, field… Continue reading →

On September 14, 2025, a brushfire erupted in south Seattle, damaging four homes and hospitalizing two people—proof that wildfire is an increasing threat to both rural and urban areas. Yet Washington’s conservation districts (CDs) saw an 83% cut in state funding for wildfire resiliency work this biennium. For Jenny Coe, Forest Health and Community Wildfire… Continue reading →

Earlier this year, Forestry Notes highlighted how Hurricane Helene reshaped the conservation landscape across western North Carolina. The storm left a lasting mark on forests and watersheds, with more than 187,000 acres damaged in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and hundreds of miles of roads and trails blocked by debris. That coverage also noted how conservation… Continue reading →

Did you know that heirs’ property affects the ownership of an estimated 9 million acres across the U.S.? Heirs’ property is family-owned land that is jointly owned by descendants of a deceased person whose estate did not clear probate. In essence, this means that the descendants, or heirs, have the right to use the property,… Continue reading →