Southern Company and partners award grants to advance longleaf pine forests from Virginia to Mississippi

Rhea-AI Summary

Southern Company announced a $5.3 million grant program in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore longleaf pine forests across the Southeast. Southern Company contributed $600,000 towards 11 conservation projects, totaling $12.2 million in conservation impact. The initiative aims to establish over 15,000 acres of new forest while enhancing 400,000 acres through various forest management practices. This marks a decade of partnerships, with nearly $50 million invested since 2012, leveraging an additional $62 million for a total impact of over $112 million.

Positive

• Southern Company contributed $600,000 to conservation efforts.
• Total conservation impact from grants reaches $12.2 million.
• Projects aim to create 15,000 acres of new longleaf pine forest.
• Enhancements planned for 400,000 acres through forest management practices.
• Nearly $50 million invested in grants since 2012, with over $112 million total impact.

Negative

• None.

ATLANTA, Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and other public and private partners, have collectively awarded $5.3 million in grants to restore, enhance and protect longleaf pine forests across the Southeast.

Southern Company contributed $600,000 that will directly fund conservation for 11 projects across its service territory. When combined with funds from other partners and matching contributions, the grants represent a total conservation impact of $12.2 million.

Twenty-one grants were awarded through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund and are expected to establish more than 15,000 acres of new longleaf pine forest and will enhance an additional 400,000 acres through prescribed burning, invasive species removal and other forest management practices. Grantees will engage private landowners through workshops and technical assistance to restore and maintain longleaf pine habitat on their lands.

"We are proud to support conservation through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund," said Jeff Burleson, Southern Company's senior vice president for environmental and system planning. "These grants will support diverse longleaf-pine ecosystems in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Virginia that are vital to many plant and wildlife species. We're committed to stewardship and conservation of this rich landscape we're so fortunate to share with our communities."

The grants will also increase and improve habitat for several at-risk species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise and northern bobwhite quail. These species depend on mature longleaf pine canopy and understory these projects will help to restore and maintain.

The awards mark a decade of grant-making through the public-private partnership, which has now invested nearly $50 million since the program launched in 2012, leveraging an additional $62 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $112 million.

"Now in its tenth year of grant-making, the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund continues to expand and improve the longleaf pine ecosystem, benefiting numerous at-risk species," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "This longstanding public-private partnership has enabled us to engage more project partners, reach more landowners and support landscape-scale projects that will improve and maintain the iconic longleaf pine ecosystem."

A complete list of the 2021 grants made through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund is available here.

About Southern Company
Southern 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, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company

FAQ

What is the significance of the $5.3 million grants awarded by Southern Company on September 8, 2021?

The $5.3 million grants aim to restore and enhance longleaf pine forests across the Southeast, contributing to conservation efforts and ecological benefits.

How much did Southern Company contribute to the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund in 2021?

Southern Company contributed $600,000 to fund 11 conservation projects.

What is the expected conservation impact of the grants awarded by Southern Company?

The grants are expected to create over 15,000 acres of new longleaf pine forest and enhance 400,000 acres of existing habitat.

What are the long-term investments made by the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund since its inception?

Since its launch in 2012, the fund has invested nearly $50 million and leveraged an additional $62 million for a total conservation impact exceeding $112 million.

What types of species will benefit from the longleaf pine forest restoration projects?

The projects will improve habitats for at-risk species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, and northern bobwhite quail.