For nearly a century, conservation districts have been the backbone of America’s efforts to protect soil, water, and other natural resources. Conservation districts go by many names, but they all share a common mission: to coordinate assistance from all available sources–public and private, local, state and federal–to develop locally-driven solutions to natural resources concerns. Explore the past, present, and future of conservation districts in the video below.
Soon after Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged all states to pass laws creating local conservation districts. These districts are local government units and are governed by an elected or appointed board. Today, there are nearly 3,000 districts across the country. Since each state created its own laws, conservation districts often go by different names. Review the map to learn the names in each state and territory.