Supporting Staff in Districts: Harnessing Resources for Effective Conservation Outreach

Breakout session Tuesday, February 11 at 4:00 p.m.

District staff are crucial for community outreach and conservation efforts. Clare Lindahl, CEO of SWCS, will discuss how we can support conservation professionals using three new resources, including the 2024 Conservation Practitioner Poll and the Conservation Professionals' Guide to Inclusive Conservation Delivery. She'll highlight barriers conservation staff face, motivating opportunities, and how Districts and partners can enhance outreach and foster stronger partnerships for conservation.

Speaker: Debbie Hughes, New Mexico Association of Conservation District, Executive Director

1. Debbie Hughes- NMACD Executive Director

2. NM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS began “ COLORBLIND” restoration efforts across state, private, and public lands with NRCS and BLM . Before Creosote Treatment After Creosote Treatment

3. 2005 2008

4. USDA-NRCS FARM BILL DOLLARS to Leverage BLM DOLLARS Successful in getting 15 million dollars to NM for Ranches with Federal lands Restoration RCPP Partnered with Canadian River SWCD for 5.6 mil from RCPP Successful in getting 7 million for Acequia restoration from RCPP (only project administered with alternative funding agreement AFA) 6.9 million for Ogallala Restoration

5. Restoration Treatments Restore NM acres treated since Inception: Over 4 Million acres of public, private & state lands Treatments included Chemical, Mechanical and Prescribed Fire

6. Agriculture, Oil & Gas and Species thriving together We can live & Work together