Projects that will restore millions of longleaf pine seedlings in Northwest Florida and projects protecting endangered bird migrations and critical habitat received grants supported by Gulf Power in the Longleaf Legacy and Power of Flight partnerships.

 

Longleaf Alliance will be planting about 2.4 million longleaf pine seedlings as it aims to restore 5,185 acres in the area of Eglin Air Force Base/Blackwater State Forest and Conecuh National Forest. A separate project by the Florida Division of Forestry — restoring 1,400 acres of clear-cut forest and, converting loblolly and slash-pine plantations to longleaf by planting more than a million seedlings — also is funded for 2011 through Longleaf Legacy. This project will aid in the connectivity of the Conecuh National Forest/Blackwater State Forest/Eglin Air Force Base Significant Landscape Area in Florida and Alabama as described by America's Longleaf.

 

These are part of four new and two continuing grants to conservation and natural resource agencies in Florida through the Power of Flight and Longleaf Legacy partnership programs.

 

The grants for environmental stewardship projects benefiting Florida are part of Southern Company’s partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

 

Since 2002 the Power of Flight and Longleaf Legacy programs have provided more than $11.3 million through 96 grants. In addition, grant recipients have contributed more than $45.8 million in matching funds, resulting in an on-the-ground conservation impact of about $57.2 million since the programs’ inception. These two programs will help more than 279,367 acres of longleaf pine and other critical habitat on public and private lands to be restored, enhancing bird populations across the Southeast.

 

“These environmental partnerships provide real benefits in our communities,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power Public Affairs manager. “Our Power of Flight and Longleaf Legacy partners continue to set the standard for innovative, results-oriented environmental stewardship. These programs are an essential part of our commitment to environmental leadership in Northwest Florida.”

 

Another project that continues in 2011 will be at the 2,300-acre Betty & Crawford Rainwater Perdido River Nature Preserve, located north of Perdido Bay. It is part of a long-term project to restore longleaf pine habitat and establish a protected area.

 

Southern Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation had awarded the Conservancy a grant under Longleaf Legacy program to restore 300 acres of longleaf and enhance an additional 260 acres of groundcover habitat along the lower Perdido River.

 

Restoring longleaf pines and its habitat is a priority of the Longleaf Legacy grants. Longleaf pines once carpeted 93 million acres from West Virginia to Texas until they were decimated by logging. Now it’s less than three percent of that.

 

But the longleaf pines are a treasure trove for habitat and wildlife. One square meter of longleaf pine harbors as many as 50 different species of wildflowers, shrubs, grasses and ferns. More than half of the 600 types of plants found in longleaf forests are considered rare.

 

The goal of the Power of Flight program is to conserve birds through habitat restoration and environmental education.

 

A summary of Longleaf Legacy grants in Florida funded in 2011:

The Longleaf Alliance – Continue the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership for restoration of 5,185 acres of longleaf pine by planting 2.4 million seedlings. The Partnership will be used as a model to expand and include the Eglin Air Force Base/Blackwater State Forest/Conecuh National Forest Significant Geographic Area in Florida and Alabama as identified by the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine.

 

Florida Division of Forestry — Restore 1,400 acres of clear-cut, loblolly and slash-pine plantations to longleaf by planting 1,016,400 seedlings. This project will aid in the connectivity of the Conecuh National Forest/Blackwater State Forest/Eglin Air Force Base Significant Landscape Area in Florida and Alabama as described by America’s Longleaf.

 

The Nature Conservancy, Florida — Restore 600 acres of longleaf pine through the planting of 90,000 seedlings on Torreya State Park, provide fire assistance on 60,000 acres and plant 6,000 pounds of wiregrass seeds. These activities directly support the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf Pine.

 

Power of Flight grants:

 

Avian Research and Conservation Institute (new grant) — Produce a range-wide strategic plan for recovery of the remnant, steadily-declining population of Southeastern American Kestrel. This project will prioritize specific sites; improve management of habitat and nesting opportunities; perform and evaluate translocations; and select reintroduction sites to establish captive-reared falcons. This project includes activities across the Southeast, including Florida.

 

Operation Migration USA (continuing grant) — Increase by approximately one-third the number of whooping cranes led south each year using an ultralight aircraft. Through this award increase, Operation Migration will assemble six staff member to condition, train and care for whooping cranes over the summer; imprint and condition up to 12 whooping cranes for southward migration in the fall; and conduct actual southward migration from Wisconsin to Florida.

 

Milliken Forestry Company (continuing grant) — Accelerate translocation efforts for the red-cockaded woodpecker over a five-year period. Funds are supporting a biologist on the Apalachicola National Forest in Florida who monitors potential donor families, with the goal of increasing from 20 to 40 the number of woodpeckers available for translocation each year. This is a continuation of a grant formerly made to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over several years. The project includes activities across the Southeast, including Florida. 

 

To learn more about Longleaf Legacy, Power of Flight and Gulf Power and Southern Company’s environmental stewardship efforts, visit the Gulf Power website.

 

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 428,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.

 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, established by Congress in 1984, is an international leader in developing public and private funding to protect wildlife and natural resources. In 26 years, NFWF has funded 3,700 organizations and leveraged $490 million in federal funds into $1.6 billion for conservation. The achievement of clear, measurable results is central to its work, bringing together diverse stakeholders—from industry to Congress to local leaders—to accomplish positive outcomes. To learn more, visit www.nfwf.org.

 

To learn more about Longleaf Legacy, Power of Flight and Environmental Stewardship:

www.gulfpower.com/environment/stewardship.asp