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: Washington conservation districts are chipping away at the threat of catastrophic wildfire
By Jennifer Hinkhouse
07/22/19

In recent years, wildfires in the West have increased in frequency and severity; as a result, it has become more important than ever for woodland owners to understand wildfire prevention and response.

E&E News: Report: Challenges remain to implementing farm bill program
By Haley Weiss
07/24/19

(Subscriber Only) Conservation work under the farm bill's Regional Conservation Partnership Program is a step in the right direction for protecting watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, but challenges remain, according to lawmakers and experts.

Newsday: Farmers could face jail time for inadequate crop covers under proposed East Hampton law
By Vera Chinese
07/24/19

Representatives of the East Hampton Town farming community acknowledged at a recent public hearing the need for measures to prevent dust storms, but said a proposed town law carrying possible jail time for offending farmers is too harsh.

The Virginian-Pilot: Virginia's "Founding Forest" was decimated. Now the longleaf pine is making a comeback.
By Peter Coutu
07/25/19

For decades, though, the longleaf has been struggling to survive in an environment no longer suited for it. The pine, which thrives under regular burn cycles, stopped getting the necessary fire treatment when earlier residents started extinguishing the blazes that would have killed off competition. And timber companies harvested the longleaf until the tree largely vanished.

The Colorado Sun: Climate change is transforming Western forests. And that could have big consequences far beyond wildfires.
By Mark Jaffe
07/25/19

Across the Rockies and even into the Sierra Nevada and the Pacific Northwest’s Cascades, forests are changing or simply vanishing. Wildfire has played a big role. Insect infestations have also had a hand, as has drought.

MPR News: MPCA reports show need for dramatic reduction in soil entering rivers
By Tim Krohn
07/23/19

The Minnesota River and three major watersheds in the region have problems that run wide and deep, from excess phosphorus, nutrients and other pollutants to major loads of sediment that are choking rivers with suspended solids.

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly: Farmers adopting soil-health strategies
By Dave Kurtz
07/23/19

Healthy soil can be achieved through no-till, nutrient management, pest management and cover crops. Northeast Indiana farmers are showing more interest in no-till than ever before.

Peninsula Daily News: Plan to slow Western wildfires would clear strips of land
By Brady McCombs
07/24/19

The Trump administration is proposing an ambitious plan to slow Western wildfires by bulldozing, mowing or re-vegetating large swaths of land along 11,000 miles of terrain in the West.

KUNR: Nevada Wild Horse Population Skyrockets To New High
By Kathleen Masterson
07/22/19

Nevada’s wild horse population has exploded to an all-time high of more than 43,000 horses. That’s 60 percent of all the wild horses roaming the West — and it’s nearly quadruple the 12,800 equids the Bureau of Land Management says that Nevada’s land can sustain.

ScienceMag: Tornadoes, Windstorms Pave Way For Lasting Plant Invasions
07/18/19

When tornadoes touch down, we brace for news of property damage, injuries, and loss of life, but the high-speed wind storms wreak environmental havoc, too.

Magic Valley: Sagebrush is disappearing across West. Here’s how scientists hope to save it
By Rachel Hager
07/22/19

Range land managers with state and federal agencies can use their computer models to specify where limited funds will have the biggest impact to restore sagebrush in the Great Basin.

Huff Post: Can Meat Actually Save The Planet?
By Katy Severson
07/18/19

We've been told our consumption of meat is destroying the environment. In fact, these experts would argue that grazing animals are a crucial part of the solution. “The conversation tends to miss this basic point: It’s not whether or not we have animals, it’s how they’re managed."

Need to update your contact information, unsubscribe or change your subscription preferences? Click here to manage your profile.