Soil & Water Stewardship Week  

Each year, the National Association of Conservation Districts selects a theme for Soil and Water Stewardship Week Celebration.  Educational materials are distributed through the nation's 3000 local conservation districts to educators and church leaders.  Soil and Water Stewardship Week is officially observed between the last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in May, however, the observance may be celebrated locally at any time during the year.

(also see Annual Poster Contest under School Programs)

Most of us live in areas that are surrounded by trees. The trees in our yard, on our street, in the city park, or in the forest all provide many gifts that help make our life much better.  In areas where we don't have many trees, we can plant trees.  No matter where
you live, you should do your part to take care of trees and not take them for granted.

Think about some of the following gifts provided to us by trees:

- Cleaner air to breathe.
- Shade during hot summer days.
- Protection from the wind.
- Homes for wildlife and birds.
- Tree leaves and roots keep soil in its place.
- Helps keep water clean.
- Can help keep our city cooler.
- Gives us wood to heat and build homes.
- Beautiful scenery to look at and visit. 

Today, as we begin the 21st Century, you must do your part to manage and conserve trees and forests, from the nearest city street to the most remote mountaintop. Scientists and forest managers know how to care for trees. What is needed is for you to want to do your part to protect the gift if trees. 

Historical Perspective
When our pioneering ancestors first arrived in North America, there was no question about the value of trees.  Wood formed the basis for much of life.  From houses and furniture to fences and bridges, wood was everywhere.  In many places, it provided most if not all of the fuel for cooking and heating homes.  As small industries began, wood and charcoal made from wood were the fuels that smelted the ore, fired the glass furnace, and stoked the blacksmith's forge.

Along the Eastern seaboard, the pioneers were astonished at the size and extent of the trees and forests.  They seemed to run from the water's edge to the mountain tops.  The forests looked like an endless supply of valuable wood - something few had enjoyed back in their European homelands.  The problem in many places was too many trees, and cutting them down to create farm fields and pastures was the major challenge.

But as populations grew, and cities and farms expanded, maintaining a supply of wood became more and more difficult.  By the Civil War, many communities were hard-pressed to obtain wood.  Many formerly forested regions were desolate, with the forests cut down and wildfires regularly sweeping across the land,  preventing new forests from emerging.  By 1875, public concern was growing, and the first national citizen's conservation organization, the American Forestry Association, began working for improved conservation of trees and forests.

That conservation movement grew steadily throughout the 20th Century, resulting in the protection of parks, the establishment of National and State Forests, and the growth of conservation programs to help private landowners manage forests.  Trees became a critical part of the soil and water conservation district program that grew out of the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, as conservationists planted trees to protect hillsides and streambanks from erosion, and established windbreaks to tame soil blowing on exposed croplands.  The science of forestry developed rapidly, and as people learned more about these North American forests and how they differed from those of Europe, the ability to manage them improved as well.  As the American population continued to grow and concentrate in cities, attention to the management of urban forests increased.

For more information click here.