Michigan’s 75 Conservation Districts (CDs) are your local providers of natural resource management services -- much like your local fire, police, health, and school services. We're also your neighbors, helping fellow Michiganders conserve their lands and waterways so our environment can be a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger place to live, work and grow for our community.

Formed in response to the 1930s Dust Bowl, Conservation Districts are local units of government that utilize state, federal, and private sector resources to address today's conservation challenges like the climate crisis, algal blooms in the Great Lakes, soil erosion, and food-system disruption. 

All of our programming is voluntary and non-regulatory. Conservation District staff, technicians, and volunteers work hand-in-hand with local, state and federal organizations to roll out programming that directly assists and improves environmental quality in our local communities.

We plant trees on private and public land. We help farmers and landowners better manage their soil health and save them money. We help forest owners improve the health of their forests. We improve water quality. We make our urban spaces healthier, safer, and more affordable. We help connect urban farmers and underserved populations to state and federal resources. We work with local schools to help educate tomorrow's leaders on conservation, agriculture, and other STEM development. We connect residents with the natural world. We are the local boots on the ground fighting climate change and helping communities become more resilient in the face of a rapidly changing planet. 

Explore our CORE 6 resources listed below to learn how Conservation Districts represent, assist and protect the future of your community's Natural Resources today.