Arizona Association of Conservation Districts

The Arizona Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) was established by Arizona's Conservation Districts in 1944 as a means of support to coordinate and fund conservation efforts across the state. In 1992, AACD was recognized as a nonprofit and registered 501(c)3. Arizona’s Conservation Districts – made up of farmers, ranchers, and volunteers – conserve our water, soil, wildlife habitats, open spaces, and other limited natural resources. Conservation Districts are hubs of conservation at the local level, providing education, community outreach, and other essential functions in supporting conservation across the state. In 1941, the Arizona Legislature charged Arizona's Conservation Districts with the statutory responsibility to provide for the conservation and restoration of lands, water, wildlife, and other natural resources, and to protect water rights, the tax base, public lands, and the general health and welfare of the people. Conservation Districts are the only organization in Arizona – local, state, or federal – that is not restricted to working on a specific resource (e.g., water) or land ownership/usage type (e.g., federal or state land).