National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DISTRICT LEADERS STRESS NEED FOR
 LOCALLY-LED CONSERVATION ON CAPITOL HILL

WASHINGTON, D.C.—July 23, 2007—Conservation leaders from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C., this week to emphasize the importance of locally-led conservation on Capitol Hill. More than 200 delegates representing almost every state and territory gathered for the National Association of Conservation Districts’ 2008 Summer Legislative Conference.

“We had a great week in Washington,” said NACD President John Redding, a landowner from Monroe, Georgia. “With the Farm Bill now in the implementation phase, we were able focus our attention on other issues such as climate change and appropriations. Having members from across the nation deliver the same message and priorities to their legislators on Capitol Hill had an enormous impact.”

Conference attendees networked, learned, heard from partners and agency officials, met with lawmakers and attended NACD’s Congressional Reception. Key speakers at the conference included USDA Deputy Undersecretary Gary Mast, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall, NRCS Associate Chief Dana York, Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins, NRCS Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty, FSA Conservation and Environmental Protection Division Deputy Director Mike Linsenbigler, DRD Associates Owner Debbie Reed and American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Bob Young.

“Secretary Schafer recognized conservation districts in his remarks as the best source to get conservation on the ground,” Redding said. “As we look to the future of conservation, it was encouraging to hear that the locally-led system is working.”

Additional conference details are available on NACD’s website at www.nacdnet.org.


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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD's website is at www.nacdnet.org.)