SCDNR News
May the Forest Be With You: How SC is celebrating Stewardship Week
April 29, 2024
South Carolina’s Conservation Districts are celebrating Stewardship Week from April 28-May 5. The annual event, in partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is one of the largest national events promoting conservation.
This year’s theme is "May the Forest be with You, Always," highlighting the critical relationship between soil and water conservation and the resilience of the state’s forests. Forests provide numerous necessary resources to South Carolina and our planet as a whole. This year South Carolina Conservation Districts are celebrating Stewardship Week through a statewide field day, classroom visits, poster contests, social media, and a Governors Proclamation from Governor McMaster recognizing this important week.
"South Carolina is a national leader in locally led conservation through each of our Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout the state," said South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts President Ben Setzler. "This year’s Stewardship Week theme brings recognition that the forest industry plays a vital role in South Carolina’s conservation efforts. Without actively managed forests we do not have clear air, quality water, abundant wildlife, recreational opportunities, and breathtaking viewsheds. I am proud that our Soil and Water Conservation Districts play such a vital role in implementing conservation on South Carolina’s forested land."
There are 46 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the state, under the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Districts are subdivisions of state government, divided by county lines, and charged with promoting the wise use of soil and water through locally led conservation.
To learn more about Stewardship Week and the National Association of Conservation Districts, visit https://www.nacdnet.org.
Find your county’s Soil and Water Conservation District and learn more about how they are celebrating: https://dnr.sc.gov/conservation/index.html.