CRANDON, WI – The Forest County Land and Water Conservation Department in CRANDON, WI announced today that it was awarded funding through a 2019 NACD technical assistance (TA) grant, made possible through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to build and strengthen technical capacity nationwide.
The Land and Water Conservation Department will use TA grant funding to support the Working Forests Project in Forest County.
According to Al Murray, former Forest County Conservationist, “the funds will be used to establish a Landowners Assistance Program.” Steve Kircher, present Forest County Conservationist, looks forward to continuing the program.
Private landowners can voluntarily join the Working Forest Protection Program. Once enrolled, landowners will be provided with resources and cost share opportunities to create stewardship management plans and complete conservation projects that will maintain the “working” forest status and retain timber production, recreational and cultural uses and conservation values
NACD and NRCS established the Technical Assistance Grant Initiative in 2018 through a cooperative agreement to help conservation districts hire staff where additional technical capacity was needed to improve customer service and reduce workload pressure.
In 2018, NACD and NRCS awarded $9 million in funding to further enhance conservation district technical assistance across the nation. To date in 2019, NACD and NRCS have awarded grants totaling $9.9 million in 47 states and two territories, funding nearly 210 positions, including 10 tribe-related positions.
“Building and strengthening technical capacity on a grassroots level is crucial when it comes to local natural resources management,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Every acre and every district employee counts when it comes to the conservation puzzle, whether it’s a soil conservation technician, forester or program support specialist.”
“NACD is proud to help put more boots on the ground and offer support to bolster the important work conservation districts accomplish on America’s landscapes every day,” Palmer said.
Learn more about the technical assistance grants program on NACD’s website.
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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 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. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.
Conservation Corner is a weekly article produced by the Forest County Land & Water Conservation Department. For more information contact Steve Kircher, County Conservationist-Land Information/GIS Director at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at .