Partners in Conservation
Purpose of Partnerships:
Skills and resources needed for natural resource conservation cross organizational boundaries
Durable partnerships that operate from shared information and priorities, and align partner resources advance common goals
Essential and effective way to broaden networks and extend Districts’ ability to get conservation on the land

Partners in Conservation
Kinds of Partnerships:
Soil & Water Conservation Committee
Municipal, State, and Federal agencies
Non-profits
Academic
Community Based Organizations
Business Sector
Other Conservation Districts

Partners in Conservation
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Section 5
State Committee
Soil & Water Conservation District
Law delegates responsibilities to the
NYS SWCC

Partners in Conservation
Responsibilities
Offer assistance to District directors in implementing their responsibilities
Keep Districts informed of the activities of other Districts
Facilitate an interchange of advice and experience between the Districts

Partners in Conservation
Responsibilities
Approve and coordinate the programs of all
Districts
Secure the cooperation and assistance of federal and state agencies to further the work of Districts
Formulate policies and procedures for the extension of aid from federal or state agencies to Districts

Partners in Conservation
Responsibilities
Provide technical and operational assistance to Districts
Administer the AEM framework and
Ag NPS Programs for District implementation

Partners in Conservation
Responsibilities
Disseminate information throughout the state concerning the activities and programs of Districts
Encourage the formation of a District in areas where their organization is desirable

Partners in Conservation
Under this arrangement Districts will:
Submit to the SWCC an annual report and the regular and special meeting minutes
Notify the SWCC of the time and place of regular and special meetings
Upon request, submit other documentation and information

Partners in Conservation
Advisory Member
NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets (DAM)
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
NYS Dept. of Health (DOH)
Website www.agriculture.ny.gov
www.dec.ny.gov
www.health.ny.gov
NYS Dept. of State (DOS)
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) www.dos.ny.gov
www.nrcs.usda.gov
www.cce.cornell.edu
Cornell University (CU) www.cornell.edu
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) www.esf.edu
NYS Conservation District Employees’ Association (CDEA) www.nyscdea.com

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Partners in Conservation
Districts work with State Agencies:
For funding opportunities
For technical support
To share information from the local level

Partners in Conservation
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Manage the state’s natural resources
Enforce natural resource & environmental regulations (protecting wetlands & surface water quality)
Provide grants for non-point source pollution control programs on watershed basis under 319 watershed program & EPF

Partners in Conservation
DEC Divisions Districts have most contact with:
Division of Lands & Forests: assist and administer grants to Districts for forestry programs
Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Marine Resources: provide technical assistance to Districts for establishing improved wildlife habitat on private/public lands
Division of Water: provide grants and technical assistance to District for water quality projects

Partners in Conservation
NYS Department of State
Work with communities on watershed planning and Ecological Based Management
(EBM)
Provide watershed planning grants to towns, villages, & counties - Districts partner with municipalities on watershed planning efforts
Provide grants to implement EBM projects -
Districts partner with eligible entities to carryout projects

Partners in Conservation
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic
Preservation - State Historic Preservation Office
Helps communities identify, evaluate, preserve,
& revitalize their historic, archeological, & cultural resources
Oversee Environmental Reviews to protect NY’s historic cultural resources from potential impacts under National & NYS Historic
Preservation Acts, and State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQR)

Partners in Conservation
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Federal Agencies Districts may work with:
USDA – Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS)
USDA – Farm Service Agency (FSA)
USDA – Forest Service (FS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Partners in Conservation
Natural Resource Conservation Service
Help implement local solutions that sustain and improve natural resources thru partnerships in planning and implementing conservation systems
Offer voluntary incentive based programs for privately owned lands
Cooperative Working Agreements allow
Districts & NRCS to share technical services

Partners in Conservation
Farm Service Agency
Stabilize farm income
Help farmers conserve land and water resources
Provide credit to new or disadvantaged farmers
Help farms recover from the effects of disaster
Administer NYS CREP

Partners in Conservation
USDA Forest Service (FS)
Manage national forests & provide technical
& financial assistance for forestry
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Protect human health and the environment
US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS)
Conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats

Partners in Conservation
USACE
Development and management of water resources infrastructure
Protection, restoration, and management of environmental resources
Disaster response and recover
Regulate activities in the nation’s waters and issue permits related to waters of the US

Partners in Conservation
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Districts work with non-profits:
NY Association of Conservation
Districts (NYACD)
National Association of Conservation
Districts (NACD)

Partners in Conservation
NYACD
Established in 1958 to represent the interests of
& provide services to NY’s 58 Conservation
Districts
A nonprofit corporation with IRS 501(c)3 status
Governed by 8 board members representing 8
Divisions by geographic regions, plus 6 officers
Board members are District Directors who represent their respective regions

Partners in Conservation
NYACD
Provides advocacy and representation on behalf of District programs
Works with legislators and interest groups towards the betterment of NY’s natural resource programs
Coordinates with NACD to inform the public,
Congress, & USDA of natural resource concerns
Provides District’s training programs and forums to discuss issues of mutual concern

Partners in Conservation
National Association of Conservation Districts
NACD
Established in 1946 as the voice for natural resource conservation at the national level
A nonprofit corporation with IRS 501(c)3 status supported by member dues and based in Washington
D.C.
Represent the interests of 3,000 conservation districts in all 50 states and US territories to
Congress, federal agencies, & environmental groups

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Partners in Conservation
Associations
Academic
Community Based Organizations
Business Sector and Corporate

Partners in Conservation
NY Conservation District Employees Association
Established in 1975 to support the employees of
NY’s 58 Conservation Districts
Governed by Board of Directors made up of 1
District employee from each region & 4 officers
Create and foster opportunities for employee networking, professional development, and District outreach and promotion
Provide representation to partners

Partners in Conservation
NY Resource Conservation & Development
8 RC&D Councils across NYS
Provide local leadership & coordination for projects devoted to environmental conservation, community improvement, economic development, & the wise use of natural resources
Administer grant projects in collaboration with
Conservation Districts and other groups

Partners in Conservation
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
Extension Agents are located in every county
Provides local experts in agronomy, horticulture, home economics, etc.
Assist Districts in demonstrations, education programs, and serve as another source for technical information

Partners in Conservation
Cornell University
Research & Scientific Literature
Institute for Climate Change & Agriculture reduce Ag related impacts on the climate & help farmers be climate resilient
Resources & Tools
Adapt-N – nitrogen application software
Cornell Soil Health Test – physical, biological,
& chemical components of soil health

Partners in Conservation
Districts interact with many organizations that can be a source of funding, resources, and program support including:
Trout Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Nature Conservancy
Wildlife Groups
Lake Associations & Land Conservancies
Foundations

Partners in Conservation
Private Businesses & Corporate Partners
Provide sponsorship to District programs
Donate time and materials to District projects
Can bring additional resources and expertise to the table

Partners in Conservation
Resource Available
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
Cornell University
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
Ducks Unlimited
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
(NEIWPCC)
NY Association of Conservation Districts (NYACD)
New York Farm Bureau
NYS Conservation District Employees Association (CDEA)
Where to Find It www.cce.cornell.edu
www.cornell.edu
www.cals.cornell.edu
www.ducks.org
www.epa.gov
www.nyssoilandwater.org/contacts/county_offices.html
www.lhccd.net
www.nacdnet.org www.neiwpcc.org
www.nyacd.org
www.nyfb.org
www.nyscdea.com

Partners in Conservation
Resource Available
NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets (DAM)
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
NYS DEC – Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Marine Resources
NYS DEC – Division of Lands & Forests
NYS DEC – Division of Water
NYS Dept. of Health (DOH)
NYS Dept. of State (DOS)
NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee (SWCC)
Resource Conservation & Development Area Councils (RC&D)
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF)
The Nature Conservancy
Trout Unlimited
Where to Find It www.agriculture.ny.gov
www.dec.ny.gov
www.dec.ny.gov/about/634.html
www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
www.dec.ny.gov/about/661.html
www.health.ny.gov
www.dos.ny.gov
www.nys-soilandwater.org
www.nyrcd.org
www.nysparks.com/shpo www.esf.edu
www.nature.org
www.tu.org

Partners in Conservation
Resource Available
Upper Susquehanna Coalition
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
USDA Forest Service (FS)
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
USDA Rural Development (RD)
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
Where to Find It www.u-s-c.org
www.fsa.usda.gov
www.fs.fed.us
www.nrcs.usda.gov
www.rurdev.usda.gov/Home www.usace.army.mil
www.fws.gov