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About

Resource Conservation and Development Councils are non-profit organizations that help people join together to improve life in their communities. RC&D projects typically work on a regional scope, bringing together partners such as the USDA, local governments, Conservation Districts, and community volunteers to improve natural resource conservation and support economic development. While the basic framework for how Councils operate is similar across the nation, each Council’s individual priorities are set by local residents to address local needs. RC&D Councils have a successful history of helping to develop local leaders, creating effective partnerships between the public and private sectors, and obtaining funding to support important projects.

Michigan has eight volunteer-driven RC&D Councils that operate regionally and cover every county of the state. RC&D projects generally fall broadly under four categories: land conservation, land management, community development, or water management. However, in practice, each Council has its own specialty areas, tackling issues such as agriculture, water quality, energy, or forestry, depending on the specific needs of the local communities in its region.

The Michigan Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils helps these eight organizations come together to learn from each others’ experiences, share ideas, build capacity, and speak for the RC&D program as a whole. While each RC&D Council operates as an independent non-profit organization, significant funding and technical support is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.