NACD Releases
2017 Annual Report

NACD is excited to announce the release of the 2017 Annual Report and the 2018 winter edition of The Resource.

This rebranded edition of the annual report includes letters from President Brent Van Dyke and CEO Jeremy Peters, financial activity and a recap of all the achievements NACD has experienced this year. From Seattle to the Chesapeake Bay and everywhere in between, conservation districts have been hard at work in 2017. The winter edition of The Resource features the inspiring work these folks have done and the impact their efforts are having within local communities.

Two hard copies of the Annual Report and winter edition of The Resource will be sent to every conservation district and state association, and all Friends of NACD will receive a copy as well. Click here to read the latest edition online.


Christiansen named interim
Chief of Forest Service

Vicki Christiansen has been named interim Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, replacing Tony Tooke, who resigned from the post in early March. Christiansen served as the Forest Service’s Deputy Chief of State and Private Forestry prior to the announcement.

She served as the State Forester in both Washington and Arizona before joining the Forest Service in 2012 as Associate Chief of State and Private Forestry.

“As a former wildland firefighter and fire manager, (Christiansen) knows first-hand that failure to properly maintain forests leads to longer and more severe fire seasons,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said. “And as a former State Forester, she knows the benefits of Good Neighbor Authority and how best to partner with our state and local colleagues.”

“Interim Chief Christiansen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in natural resource management on our public and private forestlands,” said NACD CEO Jeremy Peters. “NACD congratulates Christiansen on her new role and we look forward to working with her as we continue to seek locally-led solutions to manage our nation’s forests.”


NACD attends
SUFC Annual Meeting

Last week, NACD staff attended the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition (SUFC)'s 13th Annual Meeting. NACD Government Affairs Associate Chris Heck participated in SUFC's Hill Day on Tuesday, and NACD Forestry Specialist Mike Beacom attended Wednesday’s annual meeting.

Presentations included a city trees carbon credit program, the EPA’s Urban Waters Federal Partnership and a program that tracks the relationship between urban tree loss and stormwater management.

NACD is one of more than 30 SUFC members. Beacom is a member of the SUFC Steering Committee and co-chairs the Strategic Engagement and Outreach Working Group. To learn more, visit http://www.urbanforestcoalition.org.



New York City Soil and Water Conservation District, New York


The New York City SWCD’s urban agriculture conservation project, funded through NACD's urban agriculture conservation grants program, has united individuals knowledgeable in working with urban soils for growing food in low-income communities in the city. The project consisted of four components: 1) outreach, 2) workshops, 3) technical and educational resources and 4) field visits.

The project team consisted of the district, NYC Urban Soils Institute (USI), the Horticultural Society of NY (the Hort), GrowNYC and Greenthumb. The team developed the outreach and workshop series on urban soils and growing food in the city. GrowNYC and Greenthumb led the outreach efforts because of their existing relationships with gardeners in low-income communities.

Workshops were held on soil health basics and soil interpretation, covering the fundamentals in detail, and on growing food in the city. On-site technical assistance was provided to gardens in Brooklyn and the Bronx including soil testing, interpreting soil tests, selecting and applying best management practices and soil health building techniques, and growing and harvesting edibles. The garden plots were screened by the XRF analyzer for heavy metals.

Moving forward, the USI website includes links to technical services, research and direct communication with soil scientists. Online services also include a soils FAQ and forum in which soil scientists and practitioners can exchange ideas and information and answer questions. Interns from Brooklyn College are trained by USI staff to provide field visits, the most powerful tool for connecting with communities and individuals.


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