News and Updates
AACD ArcGIS Pro Workshop: Level Up Your Mapping Skills (Virtual)
Build on your GIS knowledge in this hands-on workshop designed to help you combine and divide spatial data, use advanced symbology, and export maps and data with confidence. Perfect for conservation professionals ready to take the next step with ArcGIS Pro.
📅 Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM MST
🔗 Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyL6XqemlLWdACfoXiZ_qKK94hmlX9cazPeoD4J53cOyQH1Q/viewform
Rangeland Resilience Workshop: Keeping Up With Technology
This is the third workshop in AVCA’s Rangeland Resilience Workshop Series—Keeping Up With Technology! Designed to help rangeland managers stay current with emerging tools and innovations for sustainable land management.
This workshop is proudly supported by the Pima Natural Resource Conservation District and is free to attend. Whether you’re joining us in person or virtually, this is a great opportunity to gain practical insights and connect with fellow professionals.
In-person attendees will enjoy complimentary lunch, refreshments, and free parking. Space is limited, so register early!
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM MST
Register Today:
🔗 In-Person Registration
🔗 Virtual Registration
Biocontrol in Action: Managing Invasive Species with Tamarisk Beetles
RiversEdge West and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are teaming up to host a two-day, interactive workshop in Phoenix focused on biocontrol strategies for managing invasive plant species in riparian areas.
Participants will explore the role of tamarisk beetles in habitat restoration through expert presentations, panel discussions, and hands-on field learning. From guided networking to field monitoring, this workshop offers valuable insights for land managers, restoration practitioners, and conservation professionals.
📅 Dates: April 30 – May 1, 2025
Day 1 (10:30 AM – 3:45 PM) | Day 2 (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM MST)
📍 Location: The Industrial Commission of Arizona, 800 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007
🔗 Register: riversedgewest.org/get-involved/events/biocontrol-action-workshop
Invasive Plant Grant Program Now Open
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), with funding from the State of Arizona and USDA Forest Service, is now accepting applications for grants to combat invasive plants and noxious weeds on Arizona lands.
📅 Applications due: May 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
📍 Eligible applicants: Government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and Tribes
🔗 Apply & learn more: https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_redir/T/jwwsmrz711c2
USDA Emergency Loans for Drought-Affected Producers
Arizona producers impacted by drought conditions may now qualify for USDA Emergency Loans to support recovery efforts. These loans can help replace equipment or livestock, refinance debt, and more.
📅 Applications due: November 25, 2025
📍 To apply: Contact your local FSA office
🔗 Learn more: www.fsa.usda.gov
Conservation in Action Tour: Sioux Falls, SD
Join CTIC for the 18th annual Conservation in Action Tour in Sioux Falls, South Dakota! This year’s tour highlights innovative conservation farming practices on real working operations, including a visit to award-winning generational farmers Kurt and Kathy Stiefvater.
📅 Dates: May 6-7, 2025
📍 Location: Sioux Falls, SD
🔗 Details & Registration: https://ctic.org/tour
Range Management 101 Workshop
Join the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension for a full-day workshop covering the fundamentals of rangeland management. This in-person event will explore key topics such as plant physiology, ecological site descriptions, livestock nutrition, drought planning, and more.
Designed for ranchers, land managers, and anyone interested in rangeland stewardship, this workshop offers practical insights and science-based strategies for managing forage and grazing systems effectively. Lunch provided and walk-ins accepted!
📅 Date: May 23, 2025 (9AM - 5PM MST)
📍 Location: Deep Well Ranch, 8400 N. State Route 89, Prescott, AZ 86301
🔗 Register here: forms.gle/TAqfnx6VCRomMVgV7
James 4-H Camp: Natural Resource Conservation Workshop for Youth
Discover the outdoors, build lifelong skills, and explore careers in conservation, forestry, and wildlife at the 56th Annual Natural Resource Conservation Workshop for Arizona Youth!
Campers will engage in hands-on learning with expert instructors, explore Arizona’s forests and streams, and use real field equipment for data collection and project design—all while having fun and making new friends.
📅 Dates: July 7–11, 2025
📍 Location: James 4-H Camp, Mingus Mountain, Prescott National Forest
📝 Deadline: Apply by May 15, 2025 (includes $100 deposit)
📞 Contact: Kim McReynolds at 520-766-3602 or kimm@cals.arizona.edu
Open to youth entering grades 8–12 in Fall 2025. Space is limited—apply soon!
Public Lands Council 57th Annual Meeting
Saddle up and join the Public Lands Council for their 2025 Annual Meeting in beautiful Flagstaff! This event will feature a full lineup of speakers, networking opportunities, and updates on public lands policy and grazing issues.
📅 Dates: September 16–18, 2025
📍 Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Flagstaff, AZ
🔗 Stay tuned for registration and agenda details at publiclandscouncil.org
AACD Announces $24.5 Million USDA NRCS RCPP Award
The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD), in collaboration with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, is proud to announce a recent award of $24.5 million through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This funding will support critical conservation initiatives across the state.
🔗 Read the full press release
From Academia to Impact: A Conservation Career Journey with Chris Jenkins
Join Chris Jenkins, CEO of The Orianne Society, for an inspiring talk on bridging science and real-world conservation. Learn how his path shifted from academia to founding a nonprofit that leads groundbreaking research and hands-on habitat protection efforts across the country.
This presentation will highlight the science behind Orianne’s conservation work and share lessons from years of translating research into action.
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
⏰ Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM MST
🔗 Zoom Link: Join here
Arizona Food Systems Network: All-Network Quarterly Meeting (Virtual)
Connect with Arizona food systems peers and get involved in shaping the future of food in our state! This quarterly meeting will highlight the updated 2025–2030 Arizona Statewide Food Action Plan and offer opportunities to share, learn, and collaborate.
📅 Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM MST
🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcu2qqT0tE9KuZS6M4uFGPDQRKuyajG3P#/registration