Southern Company and partners announce 2018 Gulf Coast Conservation grants
<p><i>Through the Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program, Southern Company and partners will enhance ecosystems, bolster wildlife populations and strengthen resiliency within the region.</i><br>
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<p>Southern Company, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Shell, today announced seven grant awards totaling over $700,000 to enhance coastal habitats, bolster fish and wildlife populations, and strengthen resilience in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.</p>
<p>“The Gulf Coast’s rich ecosystems make it an ideal place for both people and wildlife,” said Southern Company Environmental and System Planning Vice President Jeff Burleson. “We are pleased to support projects that empower private landowners and public agencies to strengthen coastal resiliency and bolster wildlife populations, like migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.”</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nfwf.org/power/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Southern Company Power of Flight Program</a> will support the following Gulf Coast Conservation grants:</p>
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;">
<li>The <b>Alabama Wildlife Federation</b> will expand landowner stewardship practices on at least 5,000 acres of private lands in Alabama, benefiting migratory shorebirds, waterfowl and a host of other coastal species.</li>
<li><b>Audubon Mississippi</b> will re-establish and expand standardized migratory and breeding bird surveys on the barrier islands of Mississippi, while also expanding a snowy plover banding program.</li>
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<p>The Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program seeks to build and maintain the resilience of the Gulf Coast’s ecosystems, living resources and communities by supporting critical gaps in conservation and catalyzing conservation solutions that can be taken to scale. Since the program’s inception in 2015, more than $18.6 million has been awarded to 62 grants. These projects have generated an additional $29 million in matching support, for a total on-the-ground impact of nearly $47.7 million. These projects will sustain, restore or enhance more than 86,700 acres of coastal habitat along the Gulf of Mexico.</p>
<p>“The coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico sustain some of North America’s most productive wildlife habitats, along with some of our nation’s most vibrant communities,” said Jeff Trandahl, CEO and executive director of NFWF. “This remarkable partnership helps ensure coastal habitats continue to support healthy populations of wildlife while also acting as a natural buffer against hurricanes and other disasters.”</p>
<p><a href="/content/southern-company/homepage/misc/stewardship.html" target="_self">Learn more about Southern Company's Environmental Stewardship Program>></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nfwf.org/gulfconservation/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Learn more about the Gulf Coast Conservation Grant Program >></a></p>
<p><a></a><a href="http://www.nfwf.org/whoweare/mediacenter/pr/Pages/nfwf-awards-coastal-conservation-grants-across-alabama-florida-louisiana-mississippi-and-texas-2018-0802.aspx" target="_blank">Learn more about additional conservation projects made possible by the GCCGP >></a></p>
