Conservation Clips is a weekly collection of articles distributed by NACD that provides our members and partners with the latest news in what's driving conservation. These articles are not indicative of NACD policy and are the opinions of their authors, unless otherwise noted. If you have a relevant submission or need assistance with accessing articles, please contact the NACD Communications Team.

NACD Blog: District Workshops for Pollinator Prairies Expand Native Habitat in Oklahoma
By Katrina Vaitkus
12/02/19

The Oklahoma County Conservation District (OCCD) in Oklahoma recently held two Pollinator Prairie Workshops as a part of a larger Pollinator Prairie Workshop Series.

NACD Blog: Friends of NACD District Grant Program seeks to support local districts
By Ariel Rivers
12/02/19

Many individuals connected to the NACD community carry a passion for the work of the conservation districts across the country, and they show this passion through their donations to the Friends of NACD program.

Agri-Pulse: USDA to open CRP general signup
By Ben Nuelle
12/05/19

(Subscriber Only) Landowners can start applying Monday to enroll acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program under what will be the first general signup since 2015.

Globe Gazette: Carney: Iowa is leaking nutrients better left in its soil
By Dennis Carney
12/01/19

(Opinion) Since the introduction of [cover crops], the total annual amount of nitrates leaving [Iowa] has increased by 46 percent. With the knowledge that Iowa’s nitrate loss has almost doubled in the span of 16 years, it is time to reassess our priorities.

E&E News: Bill would revive urban forestry panel
By Marc Heller
12/05/19

(Subscriber Only) A new bill in Congress would revive an urban forestry panel abandoned by the Trump administration. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to reactivate the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, which disbanded last year after Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue didn't sign its charter.

Phys.org: Wildfire may benefit forest bats: study
12/05/19

Bats face many threats—from habitat loss and climate change to emerging diseases, such as white-nose syndrome. But it appears that wildfire is not among those threats, suggests a study from the University of California, Davis, published today in the journal Scientific Reports. It found that bats in the Sierra Nevada appear to be well-adapted to wildfire.

The Wall Street Journal: The Water Wars that Defined the American West Are Heading East
By Jesse Newman
12/02/19

(Subscriber Only) Eastern farmers’ rising thirst for water, together with urban growth and climate change, now is taxing water supplies and fueling legal fights that pit states against each other. The shift has exposed the region to changes in water supply occurring globally as swelling populations, surging industrial demand and warmer temperatures turn a resource seen as a natural right into a contested one.

Scientific American: Can We Identify Invasive Species before They Invade?
By Zach St. George
12/05/19

North American forests are full of nonnative insects—more than 450 species, by the latest available count. Predicting which path an organism will follow “is the holy grail of invasion biology,” says forest entomologist Kamal Gandhi.

Phys.org: As a way to fight climate change, not all soils are created equal
By Anne Manning
12/04/19

As the planet warms due to excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a solution for drawing down that carbon—or at least a major part of it—lies silently below us.

The Colorado Sun: Agriculture is part of the climate change problem. Colorado wants farmers’ soil to be part of the solution.
By Moe Clark
12/04/19

With more statewide support, farmers and ranchers hope to boost the health of Colorado's agricultural lands and conserve water while also meeting business goals.

Phys.org: Tiny woodlands are more important than previously thought
12/02/19

Small woodlands in farmland have more benefits for humans per area, compared to large forests according to a new study. These small forest remnants can store more carbon in the topsoil layer, are more suitable for hunting activities and host fewer ticks than large forests.

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