The Cherokee Nation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the creation of a new conservation district that will help the Cherokee Nation manage natural resources, secure assistance for conservation projects and encourage conservation practices on tribally-owned land.
Principal Chief Bill John Baker and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue signed an agreement forming the new Cherokee Nation Tribal Conservation District earlier this year. Representatives from the Tribe and USDA were also in attendance at the 2018 Indian Nations Conservation Alliance Conference in Catoosa, Oklahoma to recognize and officially designate the new Cherokee Nation Tribal Conservation District.
“The Natural Resources Conservation Service has been a partner for many years, and the creation of a Conservation District was a way to further strengthen that partnership,” said Baker. “With this agreement, we’ll be bringing more financial resources and technical expertise to our conservation and land management efforts.”
The Cherokee Nation Tribal Conservation District is the 46th Tribal Conservation District in the United States. This new tribal conservation district provides a more organized way for the Cherokee Nation and USDA to work together. USDA and the Cherokee Nation have worked together in the past and look forward to having more opportunities to work together to achieve common goals by conserving natural resources.
“The Cherokee Nation is committed to conservation,” said Gary O’Neill, NRCS State Conservationist. “The creation of this conservation district is another tangible step taken to further that commitment. We look forward to partnering with the Cherokee Nation to further preserve natural resources.”
To learn more about programs available through NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ok/programs/ or contact your local USDA Field Service Center.
