ATLANTA, Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on an
industry-leading commitment to protect and preserve wildlife,
Southern Company, in partnership with the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and other public and private partners,
today announced the new Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program
(GCCGP).
The program will propel the work of 29 grant recipients across
the United States – five of which
are within the Southern Company service territory – that will
specifically focus on helping to restore and protect nearly 100
miles and 500 acres of coastal bird populations through monitoring,
enhancing important habitat and implementing best management
practices.
"Joining the Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program is another
way Southern Company is continuing to support vital wildlife
recovery work," said Southern Company Chief Environmental Officer
Dr. Larry S. Monroe. "Our Power of
Flight program has a history of supporting critical bird species in
the Southeast, and this new initiative furthers our work to protect
the coastal birds that are such an essential part of Gulf Coast
ecosystems and communities."
This initial round of grants supports GCCGP's broader work to
enhance coastal watersheds and bolster priority fish and wildlife
populations from Texas to
Florida. Southern Company will
focus on restoring and maintaining the ecology of coastal bird
species spanning Mississippi,
Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
Since 2003, Southern Company's and NFWF's Power of Flight
program has restored more than 20,000 acres of high-priority
habitat for bird species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker,
northern bobwhite, coastal birds and others. This effort has been
made possible by the support of more than 80 grants totaling more
than $21.1 million, including
matching funds.
GCCGP's 29 national grants are being awarded through a
public-private partnership with NFWF, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Services, Southern
Company's Power of Flight program, the SeaWorld Ocean Health
Initiative, the Shell Marine Habitat Program and other sources.
"The grants we announce today represent significant conservation
and leveraging opportunities that will result in meaningful
outcomes for the Gulf of Mexico,"
said NFWF Executive Director and CEO Jeff
Trandahl. "I am extremely pleased that this new program will
serve to complement the important work being accomplished across
the Gulf and further the benefits to the species and communities
that rely on its critical ecosystems."
The GCCGP recipients were selected based on criteria including a
focus on strategic conservation projects within coastal areas in
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, advancement of innovative restoration
concepts and engagement among youth and veterans.
The following organizations have been awarded GCCGP grants to
enhance coastal watersheds of the Gulf Coast and bolster priority
wildlife populations in Southern Company's service territory:
Alabama Wildlife Federation will use capacity building,
expanded partnerships, technical assistance and outreach to
increase landowner engagement and on-the-ground stewardship
implementation on private lands in Alabama Gulf Coast counties to
expand habitats for shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl, as well
as terrestrial birds and wildlife.
Conservian will continue to work with partners at sites
in Alabama and Mississippi to monitor and restore
beach-nesting bird populations and habitats. The project will use
standardized monitoring methods and best management practices and
will supervise local volunteer site stewards to implement
comprehensive shorebird management.
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences will create a
Florida shorebird recovery
business plan built upon the work of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird
Conservation Business Strategy and the American Oystercatcher
Recovery Business Plan. The project will strive to recover four
imperiled species in the state: the American oystercatcher, snowy
plover, black skimmer and least tern.
The Nature Conservancy will support two new conservation
corps and a veterans conservation corps pilot demonstration to
undertake projects that restore and protect natural resources. The
project will improve long-term habitat health for native plants and
animals and train young people to participate in the expanding Gulf
restoration.
State University of New York College of
Environmental Science & Forestry will implement
experimental vehicle speed reduction measures and provide shelters
for snowy plover chicks in order to increase the population of
beach-nesting birds on Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is
currently limited by poor reproductive success related to predators
and mortality from vehicular collisions.
With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000
megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is
the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its
subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and
affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in
four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well
as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and
energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the
benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the
U.S. Department of Defense and G.I.
Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by Black
Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity
and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic
Network. The company earned the 2014 National Award of Nuclear
Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for
its leadership and commitment to nuclear development, and is
continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual
World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility
rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Company