Finding Support: Know Your Network
In the conservation world, partnerships extend far beyond the collaboration between conservation districts and NRCS. Effective conservation is built on a network of federal, state, local, tribal, nonprofit, and private-sector partners. Each partner brings unique expertise, resources, and perspectives. Together, these partners strengthen the locally led model and make it possible to address complex natural resource challenges at every scale.
Expand each category below to explore a non-exhaustive list of the partners who help make conservation possible.
Federal Partners
Provide technical standards, conservation program funding, scientific expertise, and national program leadership.
- NRCS
- FSA
- US Forest Service
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
Example: A district employee helps farmers enroll in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a federally funded program administered locally with NRCS support.
State Partners
Offer state-level programs, regulatory guidance, technical expertise, funding and coordination between regions.
- State Department of Agriculture
- State Department of Forestry
- Departments of Natural Resources/Environmental Quality
- State Conservation Commissions
- Extension Services
- State Wildlife Agencies
- State Water Resource Boards or Commissions
- State/Territory Associations of Conservation Districts
Example: The state Department of Agriculture collaborates with districts to deliver water quality grants funded by both state and federal sources.
Local and Regional Partners
Help identify community needs, implement local conservation projects, and strengthen on-the-ground delivery.
- County governments
- Watershed councils or watershed districts
- Regional planning commissions
- Municipal stormwater programs
- Local conservation nonprofits
Example: A district partners with a county highway department to install erosion control structures that protect both farmland and public roadways.
Tribal Partners
Support conservation on tribal lands, contribute traditional ecological knowledge, and collaborate on shared resources and watersheds.
- Tribal Conservation Districts
- Tribal Councils and Natural Resource Departments
- Intertribal agriculture and conservation organizations
Example: Coordinate cross-boundary conservation projects, such as watershed restoration or invasive species management, that affect both tribal and non-tribal lands.
Nonprofit Organizations
Provide habitat expertise, grant funding, volunteer support, and specialized program delivery.
- Resource Conservation and Development Councils (RC&D Councils)
- Ducks Unlimited
- Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever
- The Nature Conservancy
- National Wildlife Federation
- Audubon Society and Audubon Conservation Ranching Programs
- Trout Unlimited
- Local land trusts
- Soil health coalitions
- Watershed associations
Example: Ducks Unlimited funds and implements wetland restoration projects on private lands in collaboration with conservation districts and NRCS.
Private Sector Partners
Offer certified technical services, engineering and planning support, and specialized agricultural or environmental expertise.
- Technical Service Providers (TSPs)
- Agronomists, crop consultants, and private foresters
- Engineers and planners
- Ag retailers and cooperatives
- Farm organizations and commodity groups
Example: TSPs write conservation plans or design engineered practices when district and NRCS staff need additional capacity.
Academic & Research Partners
Conduct research, provide training and demonstrations, and supply science-based recommendations for conservation planning.
- Land-grant universities
- Extension specialists
- Soil & water research centers
- Community college natural resource programs
Example: County extension service and conservation district staff co-host field days and hands-on workshops on soil health, grazing, forestry, or water quality.
Community Partners
Help build public awareness, support youth education, and strengthen local stewardship and volunteer engagement.
- Schools, FFA, and 4-H Clubs
- Volunteer organizations
- Conservation education centers
- Local civic groups
Example: District staff partner with community partners on youth camps, teacher workshops, and public education events.
– Hugh Hammond Bennett
– Hugh Hammond Bennett