WALPOLE, N.H. — The 10 New Hampshire Conservation Districts are thrilled to share an exciting new interactive resource that highlights projects funded by the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant.
The mission of the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant is to support and empower local farmers to build climate resilience throughout the Granite State. This will be done through reducing the impact of agriculture on climate change (mitigation) through greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon sequestration, and to increasing the resiliency of New Hampshire Farms in a changing climate (adaptation), while meeting farm’s conservation goals and needs. Extreme weather events, frequent and prolonged droughts, and increased pest pressures are increasing challenges for New Hampshire farms.
While neighboring states offered climate resilience funds to farms on the state level, no funding source of this kind was available to New Hampshire farmers. Seeing a need for a climate resilience grant program, the 10 NH Conservation Districts initiated the first of its kind grant program in the Granite State in 2022.
This grant though the NH County Conservation Districts seeks to support farmers in meeting those challenges.
Since 2022, the grant has awarded $714,000 to farms across the Granite State, with 95 grant awards distributed. Farms in all 10 counties and 25% of New Hampshire municipalities have received support to date.
View the 10 New Hampshire Conservation Districts story map to learn more about awarded projects throughout the state, video case studies and next steps for the future of this critical grant program.
Funds are available for projects that mitigate the impact of agriculture on
climate change and enhance the on-farm adaptations to projected climate conditions. Preference will be given to projects that can demonstrate strong potential in mitigation and adaptation.
This year’s applications will be due on Feb. 1, 2025.
Interested in applying? Contact your local conservation district for more information or visit their website to view the full Request for Proposals and Application.
As climate related challenges grow, additional financial support is needed for New Hampshire farmers. HB. 246 seeks to support the NH Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant Program.
This legislation is currently in the house finance committee with a hearing scheduled on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building, 33 N State St., Concord, NH 03301.
This grant program is made possible through the generous contributions of private donors. If you would like to make a donation to support future funding of the program, please do so on Cheshire County Conservation District’s website at cheshireconservation.org/donate.
Donations to the fund may also be made by mail, checks can be made payable to “CCCD” and addressed to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608. Please include “Climate” in the memo line. Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated and make a difference.
Since 1945 and 1946, the 10 NH Conservation Districts have promoted the conservation and responsible use of the Granite State’s natural and agricultural resources. For more information about the programs offered in your county, contact your local conservation district.