Deepwater Horizon

Oil Spill

Since the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon burned, sank and began spilling oil off the Louisiana coast last spring, we’ve all seen the tragic images of oily birds and streaked waters. For birds, sea turtles, fish and other wildlife, the threat of oil contamination remains very serious. Beyond this immediate impact, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports, the oil will cause major long-term effects. Birds and other wildlife in affected regions will likely have less available food, for instance, and lower breeding success for some time to come.

As a land conservation organization, we remain focused on protecting healthy coastal habitat for wildlife throughout the region. While we do not work on the frontlines—fighting the oil washing ashore or assisting animals that have been oiled—we are dedicated to saving and restoring habitat. We have conserved or restored unimpacted coastal wetlands, forests and other areas along major rivers that feed into the Gulf of Mexico. This work is more important than ever, as birds forced from contaminated marshes must look for healthy habitat nearby to rest and feed.

Moving forward, we’re committed to helping our partners in federal, state and local agencies as they work to restore this damaged ecosystem. As these agencies plan to acquire healthy new habitat for birds and wildlife affected by the spill, we continue to play an active role. To date, we have protected more than 300,000 acres in the region. Check out our website for the latest developments on the spill, as well as volunteer opportunities.

Photo (above): The U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Park services work with the U.S. Coast Guard and other partners to rehabilitate and then release brown pelicans at a wildlife refuge in Texas. Photo: USFWS.

CONSERVATION SUCCESS

Gilchrist State Forest, Oregon

For the first time in 60 years, Oregon has acquired a new state forest: 43,000 acres of pines, family history and a new opportunity for sustainable forestry. Owned for decades by the Gilchrist family, this northern Klamath County property was in recent years sold, heavily logged and then tagged for private development. By stepping in to acquire the land, the state, The Conservation Fund and our partners rescued the newly dedicated Gilchrist State Forest, recasting the property as a source of recreation, wildlife habitat and ultimately timber. Now, we’re expanding on this effort with plans to acquire 25,000 adjacent acres, which the Fund will hold for the state to purchase. Read more.

ACROSS AMERICA

We Got Gold (Again)!

When settlers first arrived in Missouri, lush forests, including giant cypress and tupelo trees, blanketed the southeastern corner of the state. But those forests were gradually cut for lumber—and by the 1930s, most of the land was cleared and swamps, drained. Today, we’re bringing it back. Our Go Zero program has helped to restore 367 acres of walnut, hickory, oak and cypress trees at the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forest in southeastern Missouri: in Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. Our team is honored to be the first to win the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance’s 2nd edition Gold validation—a rigorous new version of the standard. Learn more about our award.