National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Smart Growth


Smart growth tree plantingWhat is Smart Growth?
Smart Growth is development that serves the economy, community and the environment. It provides a framework for communities to make informed decisions about how and where they grow. Smart Growth makes it possible for communities to grow in ways that support economic development and jobs; create strong neighborhoods with a range of housing, commercial, and transportation options; and achieve healthy communities that provide families with a clean environment. It is well-planned growth that improves quality of life for urban and rural residents. Smart Growth is an approach to development, not a program.

Advocates of Smart Growth support ten basic principles developed by the Smart Growth Network, a broad coalition of private sector, public sector, and nongovernmental organizations.

  1. Mix land uses.
  2. Take advantage of compact building design.
  3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices.
  4. Create walkable neighborhoods.
  5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place.
  6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas.
  7. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities.
  8. Provide a variety of transportation choices.
  9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective.
  10. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.

What is the value of Smart Growth to conservation districts?
Districts across the nation are faced with the affects of growth on natural resources, whether outside large urban areas or in smaller rural communities. Unplanned growth can cause the loss of working lands, damage water and air quality, and destroy wildlife habitat. Smart Growth is a concept that calls for people to be active in shaping their own communities and living environment. It follows the district ethic of local involvement, partnerships, and science-based decisions.

Districts can provide advice about natural resource concerns; they can facilitate public input and involvement; they can find state and federal resources; and they can provide technical assistance to contractors and developers. Districts have great potential to help ensure that growth serves the economy, community and environment.


District Showcases


Resources

Training


Potential Funding Sources