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NFWF Announces Record $33.5 Million in Conservation Grants to Restore Longleaf Pine Habitat and Help At-Risk Wildlife
IPInternational Paper(IP) GlobeNewswire News Room·2024-06-18 15:01

Core Points - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced a record 33.5millioninconservationgrantstorestorelongleafpineforestsacrosseightsouthernstates,markingthelargestfundingintheprogram′shistory[1][4]−Thisfundingwillleverageanadditional33.5 million in conservation grants to restore longleaf pine forests across eight southern states, marking the largest funding in the program's history [1][4] - This funding will leverage an additional 21.2 million in matching contributions, resulting in a total conservation impact of 54.7million[1][2]−Thegrantsarepartofapublic−privatepartnershipinvolving10funders,includingtheBezosEarthFundandtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture′sNaturalResourcesConservationService[2][4]FundingandPartnerships−TheLongleafLandscapeStewardshipFund(LLSF)supportson−the−groundpartnersimplementingprojectsunderAmerica′sLongleafRestorationInitiative,aimingtorestore8millionacresoflongleafpinehabitat[3][4]−Sinceitsinception,theLLSFhasinvestedover54.7 million [1][2] - The grants are part of a public-private partnership involving 10 funders, including the Bezos Earth Fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service [2][4] Funding and Partnerships - The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund (LLSF) supports on-the-ground partners implementing projects under America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative, aiming to restore 8 million acres of longleaf pine habitat [3][4] - Since its inception, the LLSF has invested over 108.5 million, leveraging an additional 109millioninmatchingcontributionsforatotalimpactof109 million in matching contributions for a total impact of 217.5 million [7] - The collaboration includes various federal agencies and private organizations, enhancing the scale and effectiveness of conservation efforts [4][7] Ecological Importance - The longleaf pine ecosystem is highly biodiverse, providing habitat for 40 species listed as threatened or endangered and supporting nearly 900 native plant species [2][8] - Longleaf forests contribute to clean water, recreational opportunities, and military readiness by buffering training bases from development [9] - The ecosystem has been significantly reduced, now covering only about 5% of its historical range due to land conversion and fire suppression [8] Project Goals and Activities - The funded projects aim to establish over 70,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat and conduct prescribed burnings on an additional 430,000 acres [5] - Grantees will engage private landowners through workshops and technical assistance to restore and maintain longleaf pine habitats [5][6] - The projects will also support seedling nurseries to enhance the quality and quantity of longleaf pine seedlings, crucial for restoration efforts [6]