Resource conservation districts play a vital role in addressing climate change as essentially all our work addresses climate change and conservation issues. Mission RCD has built on its strong institutional relationships with other resource conservation districts, the Carbon Cycle Institute, our historic collaborative relationship with the USDA NRCS, and our trusted relationships with local agricultural communities to address and support regional climate action efforts.

Our climate programs are based on accepted NRCS conservation best management practices and centered in equity and inclusion to create healthy soils, reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon. Mission RCD is developing new mitigation and adaption programs and our current programs addressing climate issues include the programs listed below.

Mission RCD’s efforts include supporting:

San Diego County Regional Decarbonization Framework’s Pilot Carbon Farming Planning Program

The County of San Diego is developing a Pilot Carbon Farming Program under its Regional Decarbonization Framework. The Pilot Program supports the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) with support and preservation of the agricultural sector, developing incentive programs to encourage and compensate farmers and land managers for committing to carbon sequestration practices, including soil testing and other monitoring options. The program will support enhanced GHG reductions and carbon sequestration, which will be included in the CAP Update.

Southern California Climate Hub

Working closely with the Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI), four RCDs established the Southern California Climate Hub to build a carbon farming network. This regional hub includes Mission RCD, Greater San Diego County RCD (GSDRCD), Inland Empire RCD (IERCD), and Coachella Valley RCD (CVRCD). Geographically, these areas include 2,886 square miles within greater San Diego County, 1,290 square miles in northwestern Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County, 2,340 square miles within Coachella Valley, and 185 square miles within the San Luis Rey and Santa Margarita watersheds.

Carbon Farming Task Force

Led by the San Diego County Farm Bureau and Solidarity Farm, Mission RCD works with the Task Force to find collaborative approaches to creating healthier soils and helping San Diego County meet its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. Led by farmers, the Carbon Farming Task Force provides a platform for sharing best practices, identifying research priorities, and working together with others to advance policies in support of carbon farming in San Diego County. 

USDA California Climate Hub

Mission RCD supports USDA’s California Climate Hub with its development of a suite of resources for climate adaptation for use by technical assistance providers who work with farmers and producers to adapt their operations and increase their resiliency.