5 Reasons To Give To Your Local RCD This Season
The season of gifting and giving is upon us! One way you can give the gift of healthy soil, land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources is by supporting local farmers and land managers who work with your local Resource Conservation District (RCD). Throughout California, RCDs provide essential, on-the-ground technical assistance to communities to ensure the health and protection of our natural resources. RCD services range from wildfire prevention and recovery programs to adding habitats for monarchs and other pollinators to rural and urban landscapes. RCDs were established during the Dust Bowl Era to address catastrophic soil loss and devastating societal impacts. Now, more than 80 years later, RCDs have focused on conserving America’s natural resources by delivering voluntary, cooperative, and science-based strategies that protect our natural landscapes for generations to come.
It takes a dedicated team of professional staff and partners to do this work — and it also takes a community of people who care. RCDs rely on a network of volunteers, donors, and land stewards to respond to our communities’ ever-changing needs. RCDs are eligible for local, state, and federal grants, but often compete against better-resourced institutions. Donating to your local RCD helps them leverage resources to bring critical educational, technical, and financial programs and resources to individuals and communities throughout the state.
Here are five reasons to invest in your local RCD this season:
- RCDs protect and restore key ecosystems. RCDs connect people to the tools and information they need to be excellent stewards of natural resources. As local, trusted partners, they are responsive solely to their District’s specific needs and interests and work to advance initiatives identified within the community. By focusing on the long-term sustainability and resilience of our soil, land, wildlife, and water, RCDs provide a critical voice in local planning and decision-making.
- RCDs support sustainable food and fiber systems. Producers of our food and fiber work closely with RCDs to plan, design, implement, and monitor climate-smart conservation practices that build soil health and enhance the resilience of our vulnerable farmlands. RCDs are well-positioned to provide skilled technical assistance to farmers and ranchers.
3. RCDs foster community connections to nature. RCDs work with a broad range of groups, from schools to community organizations, to connect people with natural ecosystems. RCDs expand people’s access to natural resources by engaging a diverse network in their work. RCDs do not just focus on rural farmlands but also work with urban populations. Volunteer workdays are one example of RCDs engaging families and young people in their efforts to be good stewards of our resources.
4.RCDs expand educational opportunities. RCDs are the go-to expert on local conservation information. From funding opportunities to navigating permitting requirements, RCDs have no shortage of experience that can aid in peoples’ understanding of opportunities to expand conservation efforts by increasing access to information. Examples of the expertise you might find at your local RCD include soil and water conservation specialists, engineers, biologists, professional foresters, and more!
5. RCDs are deeply rooted in local communities. Spanning many generations, RCDs have maintained deep connections to farmers and ranchers while evolving with the changing needs of California’s diverse communities. RCDs always work with their constituents voluntarily — a key reason RCDs are considered a trusted resource in their communities.
Investing in your local RCD is an investment in the community of farmers, ranchers, and land stewards working to conserve the California landscape.
The Resource Conservation Network gathers and shares the stories and ideas from its partners and colleagues. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the RCDs managing this publication.
