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WHAT DISTRICTS DOMichigan’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. 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. The guiding philosophy of Conservation Districts nationwide is that decisions on conservation issues should be made at the local level, by local people, with technical assistance provided by government-affiliated organizations. To this end, our CDs work hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal organizations to roll out programs that directly assist and impact the environmental quality of local communities and our beautiful peninsulas. All citizens are also welcome to get involved with their local CD, whether through joining their District's Board of Directors, applying for a staff position, becoming an Advocate, or volunteering with community outreach programs like Michigan's Envirothon high school team competition (think Science Olympiad, but focused on Environmental Science!). We love what we do, and we can’t wait to work with you to help Michigan become the most beautifully healthy and thriving “state” it can be. Together. Curious to learn more about how we do what we do: check out the links to our CORE 6 below! WatersoilFarmswildlifeForestsdunes |
