CONTACT: Sara Kangas, NACD Director of Communications
(202) 547-6223; sara-kangas[at]nacdnet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 8, 2021

NACD, NASCA AND MANRRS
SIGN COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), coordinated by NACD’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, with the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) during the organization’s 75th Annual Meeting.

The MOU between NACD, NASCA and MANRRS establishes a formal commitment between the organizations to help each other further their missions and advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the conservation space through collaboration and the sharing of resources and services.

“Today’s agreement builds upon the efforts of NACD, NASCA and MANRRS to make conservation a more diverse and equitable space for everyone,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “This MOU will help our organizations work more collaboratively to reach new audiences and promote careers and leadership opportunities in conservation through our federal, state and local conservation partnership.”

“NASCA looks forward to joining NACD and MANRRS in helping support our nation’s conservation districts and their staff,” said Vernon Cox, NASCA president and director of the North Carolina Division of Soil and Water Conservation. “This partnership allows us to get involved with programs, trainings and events that will strengthen our members’ capacity and open more doors for opportunity within the natural resource conservation field.”

“As MANRRS continues its work in empowering and supporting minorities within the conservation field, we are looking forward to joining forces with NACD and NASCA to reach even more people who are pursuing and involved in agriculture and science,” MANRRS President Dr. Antomia Farrell said. “This memorandum of understanding reinforces our great partnership and a shared desire for creating greater access and avenues for involvement in helping protect our natural resources.”

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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations, and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.

About Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science:

MANRRS promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. It is our goal to provide the student members (junior high school through doctoral programs) of our organization with the support to become productive citizens by engaging them in leadership development activities, educational opportunities, job readiness training, and facilitating internship placement and permanent employment, with special emphasis on agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.

For more than 35 years, MANRRS has encouraged and promoted Agriculture, Natural Resources, and STEM-related programs in an effort to interest and attract underrepresented students and professionals into pursuing educational and career opportunities in these respective areas.

About the National Association of State Conservation Agencies:

Founded in 1967, NASCA is a private, nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that serves as the national voice for the state conservation agency in each state. The state conservation agency is defined in statute as the state agency with administrative oversight or direct connection to the state’s conservation districts.

The mission of NASCA is to strengthen members’ capacity, and influence national programs, partnerships, and policies by providing leadership, focus, information, training, and direction.