The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced
$33.5 million in conservation grants from the Longleaf
Landscape Stewardship Fund (LLSF) to restore, enhance and
protect longleaf pine forests in eight southern states. This year’s
grant slate is the largest in the program’s history, building on a
recent trend of increased funding for longleaf pine restoration.
These grants will leverage $21.2 million in matching contributions
to generate a total conservation impact of $54.7 million.
This year’s historic funding level builds on an enduring
public-private funding partnership and is due to the collective
investment of 10 funders, including a major contribution from the
Bezos Earth Fund, as well as increased funding from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
These investments will help partners engage more private landowners
within this private land–dominated landscape, scale-up longleaf
restoration and enhancement activities, and enable NFWF and
partners to pursue additional innovative strategies to accelerate
longleaf pine restoration. The longleaf pine ecosystem is one
of the most biodiverse in the world, providing habitat for 40
species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered
Species Act, as well as dozens of “species of greatest conservation
need” as designated by state wildlife agencies. Longleaf pine
forests also provide clean water, places to recreate, forest sector
jobs and contribute to our national defense by buffering military
installations from encroaching development.
The LLSF is guided by and provides key financial support for
on-the-ground partners working to implement projects that
contribute to the larger America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative,
recognized nationwide for its landscape-scale, multi-state approach
to solving the nation's biodiversity crisis. The ALRI recently
launched an updated strategic plan setting a renewed path to
restore 8 million acres of longleaf pine habitat to benefit
imperiled species.
“Through this record investment of more than $33 million, the 30
projects announced today will help partners scale up efforts to
reach more landowners and implement innovative voluntary approaches
to restoring longleaf pine habitat and helping the wildlife that
rely on this important forest ecosystem,” said Jeff Trandahl,
executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These projects would not be
possible without the incredible network of funding partners and
on-the-ground conservationists working collaboratively to reach the
America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative’s goal of restoring 8
million acres.”
The LLSF is a force multiplier, bringing together different
funders to support landscape-scale conservation. NFWF works with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation
Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Defense,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bezos Earth Fund,
International Paper’s Forestland Stewards Partnership, Southern
Company, Altria Group, The Orton Foundation, an affiliate of The
Moore Charitable Foundation, and, new this year, Energy
Transfer.
The projects supported by the grants announced today will
advance longleaf pine habitat restoration across eight states
within its historic range, including portions of Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Texas. Together, the projects supported by these grants are
expected to establish more than 70,000 acres of longleaf pine
habitat through plantings and complete prescribed burnings on an
additional 430,000 acres. Grantees will engage private landowners
through workshops, trainings and one-on-one technical assistance to
restore and maintain longleaf pine habitat on their
lands.
These projects will also address restoration bottlenecks by
supporting seedling nurseries and seed orchards to bolster the
quantity and quality of longleaf pine seedlings, which is critical
to expanding and sustaining longleaf pine restoration. Grantees
will help strengthen and recover populations of at-risk wildlife
including the gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker and eastern
indigo snake through captive breeding and release of individuals to
restored longleaf pine habitat.
NFWF’s investments in longleaf pine habitat restoration started
in 2004 through the Longleaf Legacy Program, funded through a
partnership with Southern Company. The LLSF launched in 2012
expanding the number of funding partners to include federal
agencies and additional non-federal partners. This long-standing
public-private partnership is considered a model for other
conservation efforts, having invested more than $108.5 million
since its inception, leveraging an additional $109 million in
matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $217.5
million. This year’s slate of grants is the 21st awarded by NFWF
since 2004 and nearly double the previous record amount awarded
last year.
Conservation of longleaf forests demonstrates the
interdependence of wildlife, human communities, clean water, carbon
sequestration and even national defense. The longleaf pine
ecosystem once covered more than 90 million acres across the
southeastern coastal plain and piedmont. Today, it has been reduced
to only about 5 percent of its historical range, due to the
conversion to other forest types, conversion to other land uses and
fire suppression. This fire-adapted ecosystem possesses tremendous
biodiversity, supporting nearly 900 native plant species and
providing habitat for wildlife, not only those mentioned above, but
others such as the Bachman’s sparrow, northern bobwhite and other
grassland and forest-dependent bird species that have experienced
significant declines due to habitat loss.
Longleaf forests also contribute to the United States’ military
readiness by providing buffers to military training bases. They
offer recreational opportunities for millions of Americans and
contribute to working lands and forest-dependent economies.
Longleaf forests are resilient to drought, wind and pests, and help
buffer communities from strong storms. These forests gained the
conservation community’s attention in the late 20th century as
government agencies, nonprofits and private landowners began
collaborating to restore longleaf pine and reverse the loss of
habitat, driven in good part by Endangered Species Act requirements
that created user conflicts. Twenty years later, the collaborative
approach epitomized by the ALRI’s collective landscape-scale
restoration efforts are lauded worldwide.
A complete list of the 2024 grants made through the Longleaf
Landscape Stewardship Fund is available here. See quotes from
LLSF partners about this historic announcement here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife
FoundationChartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s
fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal,
corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more
than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact
of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider.
Learn more at nfwf.org.
About the Natural Resources Conservation
ServiceAs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary
private lands conservation agency, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) helps America’s farmers, ranchers, and
forest landowners make investments in their operations and local
communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies,
increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve
the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat. Through
one-on-one, personalized and voluntary assistance, NRCS works with
producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their
unique conservation and business goals to ensure the health of our
natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American
agriculture.
About the U.S. Forest ServiceThe mission of the
USDA Forest Service is, “To sustain the health, diversity, and
productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the
needs of present and future generations.” The Forest Service
manages 193 million acres of forest lands with tribal governments,
state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forest
research organization in the world.
About the U.S. Department of DefenseThe
Department of Defense plans and executes all mission activities in
a manner that ensures protection of human health and the
environment to sustain indefinitely the resources required to
support the readiness of our armed forces. Over the past 10 years,
the Department of Defense (DoD) has invested approximately $42
billion to ensure the success of its environmental programs. In
FY2010, DoD invested approximately $4.2 billion in natural and
cultural resource conservation, environmental compliance, pollution
prevention, and environmental cleanup, and another $237 million in
environmental technology. Learn more here…Protecting America’s
Environment
About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe
mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with
others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife
conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of
lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and
commitment to public service. For more information on our work and
the people who make it happen, visit fws.gov.
About the Bezos Earth FundThe Bezos Earth Fund
is helping transform the fight against climate change with the
largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature
protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion in this decisive
decade to protect nature and address climate change. By providing
funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate
innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more
equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a
world where people prosper in harmony with nature.
About the Orton FoundationThe Orton Foundation,
the North Carolina affiliate of Louis Bacon’s Moore Charitable
Foundation, focuses on protecting the Cape Fear River Basin’s
unique waterways, wetlands, forests, and wildlife habitats. The
Orton Foundation’s community program supports educational,
cultural, and social and environmental justice programs in the
region.
About International PaperInternational Paper
(NYSE: IP) is a leading global supplier of renewable fiber-based
products. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and
promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers,
tissue and other personal care products that promote health and
wellness. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately
38,000 colleagues globally. We serve customers worldwide, with
manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North
Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2021 were $19.4 billion. See how
we’re building a better future for people, the planet, and our
company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030.
About Southern CompanySouthern Company
(NYSE:SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers
through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe,
reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies
in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states,
a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across
America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a
fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern
Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high
reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For
more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural
gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon
future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the
customized energy solutions our customers and communities require
to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we
put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do
and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate
culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the
U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black
Enterprise, Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, Forbes
and the Women’s Choice Award. To learn more,
visit www.southerncompany.com.
Rob Blumenthal
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(202) 857-0166
rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org
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