March 12, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 72 

For further information, contact Michelle Jacobs, Community Relations Officer, 302-739-9921, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.  

‘Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats’ stewardship materials
available now to educators and group leaders

The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD) encourages you to think about your personal responsibility to be a good steward of Delaware’s natural resources during its annual Stewardship Week celebration. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has proclaimed April 25 to May 2, 2010 as Stewardship Week, marking the 55^th year of the national event. The 2010 Stewardship Week is themed “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats,” encouraging citizens, schools and communities to develop and maintain habitat areas using good conservation practices. 

Age-appropriate activity books, posters, calendars, bookmarks, activity placemats and other items are available for a very small fee through NACD to promote the Stewardship Week theme. To learn more about Stewardship Week and preview the available materials, as well as download the educators guide and church leaders guide, you can visit www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/2010/. 

Conservation of our natural resources is important in every community. There are plenty of conservation habits that help conserve water, provide shelter for animals, birds and insects as well as increase their food supply. Habitats are all across North America and around the world; you can find them in forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, arctic tundra as well as right outside your backdoor and in your community.

Healthy habitats can include native plants and water features such as ponds, wetlands and rain gardens. Planting native trees along stream banks to stabilize the soil, preventing soil erosion or planting native plants to attract pollinators make citizens good stewards of the land.

“Being good stewards of our natural resources at home and in our communities is an important task for each citizen. When we think about protecting and managing our natural resources, we can provide healthy habitats for the ecosystems on our planet,” says NACD President Steve Robinson. “Each of us can make a difference by developing habitat areas in our own backyards, our schools, or in our communities.”

“To find out what you can do for healthy habitats, we encourage you to visit the Stewardship Week website mentioned above to see the educational materials available to you and to get ideas on becoming a good steward of our natural resources,” said DACD president Terry Pepper. “The materials are a valuable resource and can be used throughout the year, not just during this annual observance.”

The Delaware Association and its three districts are members of the NACD, which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country. Delaware’s conservation districts purchase Stewardship Week materials for distribution to local schools and church organizations as funding permits. 

For more information about Stewardship Week materials available through your local conservation district, call 302-832-3100, ext. 3 in New Castle County, 302-741-2600, ext. 3 in Kent County, or 302-856-3990 ext. 3 in Sussex County. For additional information about the National Association of Conservation Districts, please visit www.nacdnet.org.