Forestry

In southern New Jersey, the DelAtlantic Soil Conservation District (SCD), formerly Cape Atlantic Conservation District, began its forestry work with limited capacity to meet a growing local need. After a Northeast Mid-Atlantic Partnership for Forests and Water meeting, District Manager Michael Kent met Annica McGuirk, then NACD’s Northeast Representative, who encouraged him to utilize NACD's…… Continue reading →

by NACD Forestry Manager Annica McGuirk Conservation districts are using Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) agreements to achieve shared goals with federal partners, deliver meaningful outcomes for local communities, and leverage diverse funding opportunities. To help more districts explore how GNA can work in practice, NACD hosted a three-part webinar series this fall featuring conservation district…… Continue reading →

by the Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District Lake County, Minnesota, bordered by Lake Superior, the Superior National Forest, and the Boundary Waters, is a landscape where forests dominate and clean water is abundant. With less than a quarter of the county in private ownership, each private acre plays a crucial role in maintaining…… 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 →

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 →

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 →

The Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District (MCSWCD) serves a landscape that stretches from the Lake Ontario shoreline south through the Genesee River Basin. Based in Rochester, New York, MCSWCD works across urban and rural settings, partnering with landowners and producers, municipalities, and community partners to implement conservation practices that protect soil and improve…… Continue reading →

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…… Continue reading →

In California, the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) continues to grow its reach through hands-on conservation and wildfire preparedness efforts. This spring, RCDTC’s Arbor Day activities in Red Bluff offered a glimpse into the district’s year-round work. From planting native oak and conifer saplings to leading educational activities on forest health, the outreach…… Continue reading →