activities · 26
what they do
direct service · 10
- Administering Conservation Funding and Programs Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides funding and program management for on-the-ground conservation projects, including the Arizona’s Producers First Program and the Fire Recovery Program, which helps producers and landowners rebuild infrastructure and restore land damaged by wildfires. This includes cultivating funds, accepting applications, and managing a landscape-level conservation effort in Arizona's Colorado River Basin Conservation Area with over $24 million in funding.
- Arizona’s Producers First Program Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingLeads the Arizona’s Producers First Program, which directs conservation funding to cooperators for on-the-ground conservation efforts, including cultural resource surveys.
- Colorado River Basin Conservation Area (CRBCA) Program Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionManages a landscape-level conservation effort in Arizona's Colorado River Basin Conservation Area (CRBCA) with over $24 million in funding, working with producers to restore native plant communities and strengthen working lands.
- Conducting Conservation Education Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides conservation education through workshops and presentations for producers, Conservation Districts, and the public across Arizona, and offers funding support for cultural resource surveys.
- Conservation Project Support Archaeological Field Research & AnalysisProvides project support to stakeholders by developing conservation plans, completing NEPA and archeological clearances, obtaining permits, and funding cultural resource surveys.
- Fire Recovery Program Wildfire Risk Mitigation & ResponseOperates the Fire Recovery Program, which began in November 2021, to help producers and private landowners rebuild infrastructure and restore land damaged by wildfires since July 2020, providing program management, technical support, and administration.
- Fire Recovery Program Wildfire Risk Mitigation & ResponseOperates the Fire Recovery Program, initiated in November 2021, to help producers and private landowners rebuild infrastructure and restore land damaged by wildfires since July 2020, providing program management, technical support, and administration.
- Implementing On-the-Ground Conservation Practices Erosion Control and Habitat RestorationWorks directly with producers and land stewards to implement conservation practices, restore native plant communities, strengthen working lands, and enhance rangelands and forest lands. This includes installing new fences and pipelines, replacing corrals, removing invasive woody vegetation, improving soil health, water quality, and grazing efficiency, and increasing water availability.
- Operating the Resource Rangeland Management Program (RRMP) Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionOperates the Arizona Resource Rangeland Management Program in partnership with the BLM to restore and sustain natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and maintain productive working lands across Arizona.
- Resource Rangeland Management Program (RRMP) Conservation Advocacy & Land ProtectionOperates the Arizona Resource Rangeland Management Program in partnership with the BLM to restore and sustain natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and maintain productive working lands across Arizona, including installing new fences and pipelines.
advocacy · 3
- Advocacy for Climate-Smart PracticesPublished an article advocating for brush management to be recognized as a climate-smart practice.
- Advocacy for Conservation PracticesAdvocates for the recognition of specific conservation practices, such as brush management, as climate-smart initiatives.
- Advocating for Conservation PracticesPublishes articles advocating for specific conservation practices, such as recognizing brush management as a climate-smart practice.
research · 4
- Conservation Publications Agricultural and Conservation CommunicationsPublishes "ConserveAZ Magazines" quarterly, covering conservation topics across Arizona, and provides access to past newsletters, as well as a guide on best management practices for ranchers in Sonoran Desert Tortoise habitat.
- Conservation Research and Publications Agricultural and Conservation CommunicationsPublishes "ConserveAZ Magazines" quarterly, covering conservation topics across Arizona, and develops guides on rangeland monitoring, assessment, and best management practices for specific habitats.
- Publishing Conservation Research and Guides Agricultural and Conservation CommunicationsPublishes "ConserveAZ Magazines" quarterly, covering conservation topics, and develops guides on best management practices for ranchers and monitoring rangeland conditions and ecosystem health.
- Rangeland Monitoring and Assessment ResearchPublishes a guide on monitoring rangeland conditions and evaluating ecosystem health, including methods for collecting, interpreting, and using rangeland data for management planning, and created a training manual summarizing this guide.
capacity building · 9
- Conservation Action Plan Development Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides technical resources, including how-to guides and fact sheets, and developed the ConserveAZ portal in partnership with NRCS, to support individuals and Districts in creating and implementing conservation action plans.
- Conservation Education and Training Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides conservation education through workshops and presentations for producers, Districts, and the public across Arizona, and offers NACD Gold Level Certified Training for Conservation District Supervisors and Advisors.
- Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Archaeological Field Research & AnalysisProvides project support to stakeholders by developing conservation plans, completing NEPA and archeological clearances, obtaining permits, and offering technical resources and how-to guides for implementing conservation action plans.
- Fiscal and Administrative Support for Arizona Public Lands Council (AZ PLC)Serves as the fiscal agent for the Arizona Public Lands Council (AZ PLC), providing administrative and financial management support, including maintaining bank accounts, processing payments, and managing membership dues.
- Local Work Group (LWG) Support Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides various resources and templates, including handbooks, agenda templates, presentation materials, reporting templates, and checklists, to guide Conservation Districts in conducting Local Work Group meetings, engaging stakeholders, and reporting recommendations to NRCS.
- Local Work Group (LWG) Support and Training Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides various resources and training materials, including handbooks, templates, presentations, and checklists, to guide Conservation Districts in organizing and conducting Local Work Group meetings, documenting recommendations, and engaging stakeholders.
- Providing Capacity Building for Conservation Districts Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingSupports Arizona's Conservation Districts by providing administrative and financial management support, securing grants, offering technical resources, and developing handbooks, templates, and training materials for Local Work Groups and Conservation Action Plans. This includes NACD Gold Level Certified Training for Supervisors and Advisors.
- Support for Conservation Districts Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides funding, administrative, and technical support to Arizona's 42 Conservation Districts, enabling them to conduct on-the-ground conservation projects and manage their operations.
- Support for Conservation Districts Conservation District Support & Capacity BuildingProvides funding, administrative, and technical support to Arizona's 42 Conservation Districts to facilitate on-the-ground conservation projects and secure additional conservation funds through grants.
strategies · 11
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Collaborative Resource Leveraging collaborative_resource_leveragingCollaborates with cooperators and over 20 federal, state, and tribal agencies to leverage resources and provide technical and financial assistance for locally-led conservation plans and practices.
- Collaborative and Science-Based Resource Leveraging collaborative_resource_leveragingThe organization achieves its conservation goals by fostering dynamic, long-term collaborations with a wide array of governmental, private, and non-profit entities. This collaborative approach, combined with science-based resources and technical specialists, allows for the leveraging of resources to provide technical and financial assistance, implement comprehensive conservation practices, and build ecosystem resilience at a landscape level.
- Collaborative and science-based resource leveraging collaborative_resource_leveragingThe organization achieves its conservation goals by fostering dynamic, long-term collaborations with various governmental, private, and non-profit entities. This approach leverages diverse resources, technical expertise, and scientific knowledge to provide comprehensive support for conservation planning and implementation across all land types and natural resources.
- Community-Driven Conservation community-driven_solutionsEmphasizes the importance of local knowledge and lived experience, combined with technical expertise and partnerships, to achieve resilient, long-term conservation solutions.
- Comprehensive Ecosystem Resilience Building ecosystem_resilience_buildingThe organization focuses on improving the resilience of various ecosystems, including forests, woodlands, and riparian areas, against threats like wildfire, insects, disease, and drought. This is achieved through a broad range of conservation practices such as density management, invasive species control, riparian restoration, and support for specific conservation practices like brush management and wildlife habitat planting, applied across all land ownership types.
- Comprehensive Natural Resource Conservation comprehensive_natural_resource_conservationWorks on all types of natural resource conservation practices across all land ownership or land-use types, including lands, water, wildlife, and other natural resources, with broad statutory authority.
- Ecosystem resilience building through comprehensive conservation practices ecosystem_resilience_buildingThe organization focuses on improving the resilience of natural ecosystems, particularly forests and woodlands, against threats like wildfire, insects, disease, and drought. This is achieved through the implementation of a broad range of conservation practices, including density management, invasive species control, riparian restoration, and other eligible practices, applied across all land ownership types.
- Locally-Led Conservation locally-led_conservationUtilizes locally elected or appointed supervisors, who are farmers, ranchers, and land managers, to identify conservation needs, set priorities, and implement practices at the local level.
- Locally-led, Producer-driven Conservation locally_led_conservationThe organization believes that conservation efforts are most effective when they are driven by local communities and producers, leveraging their knowledge and experience to identify needs, set priorities, and implement practical solutions across various land types. This approach involves local elected/appointed supervisors, Local Work Groups, and direct engagement with landowners and stakeholders to ensure relevance and long-term success.
- Locally-led, producer-driven conservation locally_led_conservationThe organization believes that conservation efforts are most effective and sustainable when they are driven by local communities and producers. This involves empowering local Conservation Districts, utilizing the knowledge of local farmers, ranchers, and land managers, and engaging stakeholders to identify needs, set priorities, and implement practices tailored to specific local contexts.
- Stakeholder Engagement stakeholder_engagementFacilitates Local Work Group meetings where Conservation Districts convene local stakeholders to identify resource concerns, develop solutions, and submit recommended priorities to federal and state entities.
named programs · 8
what they call their work
Arizona’s Producers First
A program led by Arizona’s Conservation Districts and AACD to put conservation funding directly into the hands of cooperators for on-the-ground conservation.
ConserveAZ Portal
A unique mapping portal developed in partnership with NRCS to support Arizona’s Conservation Districts with the development of Conservation Action Plans, allowing access to diverse data for resource needs assessments and tracking conservation practices.
District Supervisor Training
NACD Gold Level Certified Training for Conservation District Supervisors and Advisors.
Fire Recovery Program
Provides program management, technical support, and administration to help producers and private landowners rebuild infrastructure and heal land destroyed by wildfires since July 2020.
Local Work Groups (LWGs)
Subcommittees of the State Technical Committee that provide recommendations to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs.
Resource Rangeland Management Program (RRMP)
A statewide, landscape-level rangeland program in partnership with Conservation Districts and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to restore and sustain natural ecosystems and provide for managed working lands.
Restoring Arizona’s Colorado River Basin Conservation Area RCPP
A landscape-level effort with over $24 million in NRCS RCPP funding, focused on restoring healthy native plant communities and strengthening working lands by working directly with producers.
Workshops & Presentations
Provides conservation education across the state for producers, Districts, and the public.
relationships · 47
who they work with
- AFRG Partner — Program contributor for fire recovery efforts.
- AZ Department of Agriculture Partner — The Director of the AZ Department of Agriculture, Paul Brierley, is a member of the Natural Resource Conservation Board.
- AZ Game and Fish Department Partner — The Assistant Director of the Wildlife Management Division, Clay Crowder, is a member of the Natural Resource Conservation Board.
- Apache NRCD Partner — Daric Knight, AACD Treasurer, is the Apache NRCD Board Chair.
- Arizona Department of Agriculture Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Arizona Farm and Ranch Group Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Arizona Farmers & Ranchers Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Arizona Game & Fish Department Partner — Partner in the Colorado River Basin Conservation Area RCPP, working directly with producers.
- Arizona Game and Fish Department Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Arizona Public Lands Council Partner — Serves as the fiscal agent for the Arizona Public Lands Council, providing administrative and financial management support.
- Arizona’s Conservation Districts Partner — Leads the Arizona’s Producers First Program with AACD and partners in the Resource Rangeland Management Program.
- Arizona’s conservation districts Partner — Partners with conservation districts to provide funding for on-the-ground conservation projects.
- BLM Partner — Collaborates on the Arizona Resource Rangeland Management Program.
- Big Sandy NRCD Partner — Anita Waite, AACD Government Affairs Committee Chair, is the chair for the Big Sandy NRCD.
- Buckeye Valley NRCD Partner — Tim Grandy, AACD President, serves on the Buckeye Valley NRCD Board.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Partner — Partners with Conservation Districts in the Resource Rangeland Management Program.
- Bureau of Reclamation Government — Receives funding through the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP).
- Conservation Districts Partner — Partner in the Colorado River Basin Conservation Area RCPP, working directly with producers.
- Freeport-McMoRan Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Gila County Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- Gila County Partner — Program contributor for fire recovery efforts.
- Little Colorado River SWCD Partner — Sadie Lister, AACD Secretary, is a member of the Little Colorado River Soil and Water Conservation District/Navajo Nation.
- NACD Partner — Provides Gold Level Certified Training for Conservation District Supervisors and Advisors.
- NRCS Partner — Program contributor for fire recovery efforts.
- NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Funder — Awarded over $24 million in funding for the Colorado River Basin Conservation Area program.
- NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Funder — Provides over $24 million in funding for the Restoring Arizona’s Colorado River Basin Conservation Area RCPP.
- National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Partner — Listed as a partner/contributor.
- National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Partner — Listed as a program contributor.
- Natural Resource Conservation Board Partner — Provides information and materials for the Natural Resource Conservation Board (NRCB).
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