National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

Contact: Susan Schultz
Susan-Schultz@nacdnet.org
(317) 326-2952

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONSERVATION DISTRICTS CELEBRATE 55 YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP

WASHINGTON, D.C.—April 26, 2010—The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and its 3,000 member conservation districts are joining forces this week to celebrate Stewardship Week. For 55 years, NACD has sponsored this national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship.

"Our conservation districts are involved in stewardship activities every day, all year round," said NACD President Steve Robinson, a producer from Marysville, Ohio. "But Stewardship Week provides a unique opportunity to really increase outreach efforts in schools, churches and communities to emphasize the importance of caring for our natural resources."

NACD began this national program in 1955 to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Today, it is one of the nation's largest conservation-related observances. The program relies on locally-led conservation districts sharing and promoting stewardship and conservation activities through field days, programs, workshops and other outreach efforts throughout their respective communities.

The theme for NACD's 2010 Stewardship program is "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats." Conservation districts help landowners implement practices that restore, improve and maintain habitat for all types of fish and wildlife. "Whether in your backyard, on a farm, or in the middle of a major metropolitan area, conservation habits truly do result in healthy habitats," said Robinson.

"The Stewardship concept involves personal and social responsibility, including a duty to learn about and improve natural resources as we use them wisely, leaving a rich legacy for future generations," Robinson said. "To me, stewardship is about being able to leave my land to my children and grandchildren, knowing that my efforts have improved its condition."

Additional information about Stewardship Week is available on NACD's website at http://nacdnet.org/stewardship/.

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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.