$1 million grant to help in forest development
Eight grants totaling $1 million have been announced to support forestland restoration projects and working forests in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and International Paper announced the grants that will be matched by $1.5 million from the organizations receiving the grants to make a total impact of $2.5 million, according to a joint release.
The projects include a $100,000 award to the University of Tennessee to help restore shortleaf pine and pinehardwood forests on 682 acres on the Cumberland Plateau.
“The Forestland Stewards Partnership has achieved tremendous success by bringing together business leaders, landowners, public agencies and conservationists to restore and protect some of the most iconic and biodiverse forests in the United States,” said Jay Jensen, director of the foundation’s southern regional office. “The grants announced today support the collective work of dozens of partners working to promote healthier forests at a landscape-scale, which will benefit wildlife and local communities.”
International Paper in 2013 made a five-year commitment of $7.5 million to restore native forests, strengthen important fish and wildlife populations and protect watersheds.
“Our entire business depends on the sustainability of forests,” said Tom Cleves, International Paper’s vice president of global citizenship. “We are thrilled to team up with organizations that share our commitment to responsible forest management.”
The projects are expected to establish more than 2,000 new acres and enhance an additional 8,000 existing acres of native forest, as well as improve 250 miles of forest and stream habitat.
The grantees, award amounts and projects:
› The Nature Conservancy-Kentucky Chapter, $50,000, The Nature Conservancy’s Kentucky Chapter and partners will remove Green River Lock and Dam 6 and complete a scientific assessment for the removal of Green River Lock and Dam 5. The project will result in 198 miles of free-flowing river between the Rochester Dam and Green River Lake Dam in Kentucky.
› Bedford County (Tenn.) Soil Conservation District, $100,000, Bedford County Soil Conservation District and partners will restore and enhance 100 acres of forests and herbaceous cover on degraded streams in Tennessee’s Duck River watershed.
› Lincoln County (Tenn.) Soil Conservation District, $199,590, Lincoln County Soil Conservation District and partners will restore 150 acres of forested buffers on degraded streams within priority sub-watersheds of Tennessee’s Elk River watershed.
› Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation, $115,000, Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation and partners will enhance 1,600 acres of headwaters habitat on two privately owned tracts at Coal and Whites Creek in Cumberland County to protect and diversity wildlife habitat.
› The University of Tennessee, $100,000, The University of Tennessee and partners will restore shortleaf pine and pine-hardwood forests on 682 acres, protect water quality and channel integrity on 3.5 miles of streams, and enhance 60 acres of forests impacted by recent wildfires and invasive species.
› The Forest Guild, $149,989, The Forest Guild and partners will restore shortleaf pine on 175 acres in Kentucky and 175 acres in Tennessee and use the forests as shortleaf demonstration and learning centers.
› Alabama Forestry Association, $200,000, The Alabama Forestry Association and partners will restore shortleaf pine on public and private lands and increase burning capacity in the project area to enhance shortleaf pine forests, with a total impact of 4,400 acres.
› Alabama Forestry Association, $150,000, the Alabama Forestry Association and partners will engage 250 landowners in outreach and technical assistance focused on habitat protection and enhancement for at-risk aquatic species, with the expectation that 14 family forests will improve 80 acres of forests and 12 miles of streams.