NEWS RELEASE

NACD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sign Memorandum of Understanding

New Orleans, LA – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) during the association’s 77th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

The MOU between NACD and USFWS memorializes the partnership between the organizations and builds on a successful history of collaboration. Conservation districts were the first partners when its Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program was established  in the early 1990s.

“We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are committed to making future efforts more inclusive to reach all producers and landowners,” said NACD President Michael Crowder.  “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remains a critical partner in our work to promote responsible management of natural resources that benefits the communities and ecosystems that depend on them.”

“Conservation is a shared responsibility. To be successful, the conservation community must find ways to work collaboratively with stewards of private and Tribal lands,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “Conservation districts are one of our most important partners in conservation. Through our shared commitment to partnerships and inclusion, we have a tremendous opportunity to make significant progress on the natural resource issues facing all of us.”

This MOU will expand the relationship between the USFWS, NACD, conservation districts and their state or territory associations to deliver conservation to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

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About the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the United States, their state and territory associations, and the 17,000 individuals who serve on their governing boards. For more than 75 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.