NORFOLK - For almost 43 years, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has been a part of northeast Nebraska. The LENRD staff and directors have been helping people take care of and protect their natural resources. During Soil & Water Stewardship Week, they remind us that we all have a connection to natural resources. The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is celebrating the 60th year of Stewardship week April 26 - May 3, 2015. The 2015 Stewardship Week is themed, "Local Heroes - Your Hardworking Pollinators". 

"Pollinators play a critical role in our everyday lives, and it's important that we work to protect their habitat," said Julie Wragge, LENRD Information & Education Specialist. "While many pollinators may seem like just annoying insects, they are actually a very important part of the web of life upon which we all depend."

When pollinators shrink in number, many plants either produce less seed or no seed at all. The bottom line is, when pollinators start disappearing, plants start disappearing, as most plants depend upon pollinators to reproduce.

She added, "There are more than 100,000 species of insects, including bees, flies, moths, butterflies and beetles that work hard as pollinators. There are also over 1,000 species of other animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals, including bats that pollinate plants."

To recognize Soil & Water Stewardship Week, the LENRD is providing educational materials to your churches and schools free of charge. If you are interested in the information for your local church, school, or group, please contact the LENRD. Additional Pollinator resources are located in the NACD Local Heroes - Your Hardworking Pollinators educators guide found at:
www.nacdnet.org/education/resources/local-heroes

The LENRD is a member of NACD which oversees the Stewardship Week program. Stewardship Week is one of the largest national annual programs to promote conservation. NACD represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts, which were established to encourage resource conservation across the country.

For more information about Stewardship Week and conservation, contact the LENRD at 402-371-7313 or www.lenrd.org or find us on Facebook & Twitter.