New Orleans, LA – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the 2023 recipients of the Friends of NACD District Grants Program during NACD’s 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.
The Friends of NACD District Grants Program supports locally led conservation and advances climate resilience, education and youth development, and food security. Now in its fourth round of funding, the program is funded through donations individuals and organizations make to NACD. This year, eight conservation districts will receive $2,500 to implement community-based projects.
“NACD is excited to support innovative projects led by conservation districts across the country,” said District Operations & Member Services Committee Chairman Franklin Williams. “This effort would not be possible without the many generous donations made to NACD. Thank you to everyone who has supported this program. We are so pleased with the caliber of these projects and are grateful for the opportunity to fund them!”
The 2023 Friends of NACD District Grants Program recipients and their conservation projects are:
Alabama – Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District
- In connection with landowners, students, youth programs, and civic organizations, the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District will station and maintain an active flow hive with honeybees and a pollinator garden. This provides a visual demonstration of the importance and value of pollinators and healthy ecosystems.
Maine – Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District
- The Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District will work with local schools and community groups on an educational project at their Tenmile River Demonstration Forest. The project will show ways to improve forest resiliency to climate change by encouraging carbon storage in standing timber and increasing forest diversity with alternative forest products. It also shows how crop plantings can create sources of income and enhance soil health.
North Carolina – Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District
- The Wilkes Soil & Water Conservation District will build a Mobile Soils Classroom that provides an immersive and interactive experience of the ground beneath their feet and teach the importance of soil health for the environment and food production. The mobile classroom will be brought to schools throughout the community.
North Dakota – James River Soil Conservation District
- To inaugurate the recently purchased natural resource and agricultural education property, the James River Soil Conservation District will create explorer packs and host youth and adult programming that revolves around pollinators, trees, native flora, water conservation, and wildlife.
Oklahoma – Oklahoma County Conservation District
- The Oklahoma County Conservation District will promote land stewardship in urban areas by providing resources and technical support to conservation projects centered on the benefits that native plants provide to soil health, water conservation, and wildlife habitat.
Washington – Benton Conservation District
- The Benton Conservation District will partner with the Franklin and Walla Walla Conservation Districts, leading agricultural employers, local clean energy utilities, and educational institutions to develop and implement the Energy & Agriculture STEM Academy. The project will prepare 25 high school students for local careers in conservation, sustainable agriculture, and clean energy.
West Virginia – Capitol Conservation District
- The Capitol Conservation District will provide a state-of-the-art outdoor classroom experience encompassing major natural resource fields: aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils, and agriculture. The experience learning about each of these fields will be enhanced through hands-on educational exploration.
Wyoming – Campbell County Conservation District
- The Campbell County Conservation District, in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies, will promote the importance and awareness of soil health through a mobile, inclusively designed educational trailer for both youth and adult audiences throughout the community.