What is a Soil & Water Conservation District?

There are over 3,000 soil & water conservation districts in the United States. It is mainly through these local districts that the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assists individuals, groups, and units of government with natural resources conservation.  

Soon after the NRCS was established by Congress in 1935 (it was called Soil Erosion Service then later, the Soil Conservation Service) the Secretary of Agriculture made known the need for local divisions of government to handle the responsibility of conducting a conservation program. Two years later the President recommended that all states form conservation districts, which Florida instituted in 1937.  

The 5 locally elected supervisors for each of Florida's 63 soil and water conservation district (SWCD) boards serve four year terms. The NRCS staff provides technical assistance for various conservation projects and programs agreed upon. Participation with the SWCD is voluntary - there is no charge for NRCS services, and no taxes are levied on county residents. Many of the 63 Florida SWCDs belong to both the Association of Florida Conservation Districts (AFCD) and the National Association of Conservation Districts. The two associations are non-profit groups that provide leadership and coordination for the local SWCDs in natural resource conservation endeavors.  

Under the guidance of the SWCD's, the NRCS concentrates on the following programs/projects: technical assistance, soil surveys, PL-566 watershed projects, 2002 Farm Bill programs as, the Environmental Quality Incentive, Wildlife Habitat Incentive, and Wetland Reserve Programs, Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), Resource Conservation Act (RCA), Food Security Act (FSA), Cooperative River Basin studies, Rural Clean Water Program (RCWP), Plant Materials Center, Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA).
State Conservationist, T. Niles Glasgow, directs NRCS operations in Florida.

The Association of Florida Conservation Districts (AFCD) is a private nonprofit organization representing the 63 Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout the State of Florida. Under the direction of its elected governing body, the AFCD provides information and support services to the Conservation Districts, analyzes conservation programs and policy issues that have direct impact on the local districts and offers cost-effective services to member districts.

AFCD MISSION

• To assist and enable the Conservation Districts of Florida to accomplish collectively what they cannot accomplish individually.

• To assist the Districts in their efforts to provide service and assistance in natural resource management and conservation.

• To provide a direct link between the Districts and the National Association of Conservation Districts as well as the State of Florida.

AFCD Strategic Objectives

• To Strengthen the AFCD's Legislative presence, which will, in turn, strengthen the Legislative presence of each Conservation district in the State of Florida.

• To build and enhance the capacity and capability of Conservation Districts in the State of Florida to include Leadership Development.

• To promote conservation education amongst the youth in public and private schools of the State of Florida to include public speaking, environmental studies, land judging and other areas of conservation.

• To promote and increase public awareness of florida Conservation Districts as "The source for Natural Resources Management".

• To implement effective two-way AFCD/District communication.

• To expand AFCD available resources for programs and services.