Wildlife

By Adam Pugh With the ongoing efforts to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA) fully under way, August in Washington, D.C., was quite busy this year despite the Congressional recess. On August 27, 2019, the Departments of the Interior and Commerce (known as the “Services”) moved forward as they published final versions of the proposed…… Continue reading →

As a single-person, part-time office, the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has its work cut out when it comes to implementing on-the-ground projects, so the SWCD is partnering with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to undertake forest restoration in New Mexico. The timing couldn’t be better, as New…… Continue reading →

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2019 in the winter edition of National Woodlands magazine and is the second of a series of articles in partnership with The National Woodland Owners Association (NWOA). By Linda Brownson As a first-time forestland owner located in the foothills of the White Mountains of New Hampshire,…… Continue reading →

By NACD Intern Lacey Fiedler Range management practices have existed for centuries to help sustain proper habitats for plants and wildlife. Conservation districts have worked throughout the decades to improve range management in their communities, especially by assisting with controlling wild horse and burro populations on public lands. Overpopulation of horses and burros leads to…… Continue reading →

By Lucas Patzek, Napa County Resource Conservation District and Ariel Rivers, NACD Pacific Region Representative [caption id="attachment_30348" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo Credit John Comisky[/caption] No one can be blamed for thinking that birds and berries don’t mix. Anyone growing grapes or blueberries has at some point broken into a sweat or paced their fence line with…… Continue reading →

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MDNRC) recently published the below article. NACD thanks Linda Brander, a resource specialist for the Conservation Districts Bureau within MDNRC, for the opportunity to republish this story on our blog. [caption id="attachment_30163" align="alignright" width="200"] Doug and Ronda Bonsell. Photo by Jesse Scott, Ekalaka, Mont.[/caption] By John Grassy, Montana Department of Natural…… Continue reading →

By NACD Natural Resources Policy Specialist Adam Pugh Last week’s mid-term elections resulted in the U.S. House of Representatives flipping to a Democrat majority for the first time since 2010. In the conservation world, focus is primarily centered on the expired farm bill. However, the elections will also significantly impact the House Committee on Natural…… Continue reading →

By NACD Natural Resource Policy Specialist Adam Pugh On July 12, the Congressional Western Caucus rolled out its legislative package to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On July 17, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) held a legislative hearing on its discussion draft of the ESA Amendments of 2018. NACD staff…… Continue reading →

By NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas As spring concludes and summer finally arrives, you're likely seeing more critters around your garden hard at work. Today marks the beginning of National Pollinator Week, an annual event to raise awareness of the animals and invertebrates that make our ecosystems function. In addition to graphics on NACD's social…… Continue reading →

Editor's note: This blog is the second part in a series. Click here to read the first installment. By Laura Demmel Agricultural sustainability could be defined as “natural resource stewardship practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.1” Conservation districts work toward this goal…… Continue reading →