爆料公社 Announces Comprehensive Gulf Restoration Plan
爆料公社 recommends an investment of more than $1.7 billion in restoration and conservation from south Texas to Florida Keys.
NEW ORLEANS 鈥 "The challenges are huge, but we have an enormous opportunity to save much of the Gulf Coast for both birds and people. We can鈥檛 afford to blow this," said David Yarnold, president and CEO of 爆料公社 () after the release of an extensive report, 爆料公社鈥檚 Vision: Restoring the Gulf of Mexico for Birds and People.
The report highlights projects and programs critical to help the region and its wildlife recover from devastating hurricanes, oil spills and other environmental and man-made disasters. At the center of the largest ecosystem restoration effort ever attempted, 爆料公社 recommends an investment of more than $1.7 billion in restoration and conservation efforts.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, which resulted in a global settlement of $20.8 billion in claims and cleanup efforts, has left a devastating mark on the Gulf Coast. 爆料公社 recommends 16 state-based, 10 region-wide and four open ocean projects, which together total more than 136,000 acres of restored or protected habitat for bird and human communities from south Texas to the Florida Keys.
鈥淣ever before has this amount of funding been dedicated to ecosystem restoration, therefore, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help the Gulf recover,鈥 said Director of Gulf Coast Restoration at 爆料公社, Kara Lankford. 鈥淲ildlife and people living along the coast are dependent on millions of acres of habitat that is at extreme risk unless we act boldly.鈥
鈥淭he enormous challenges facing the Gulf Coast can be daunting when we see threats ranging from climate change to land loss and from man-made and natural disasters,鈥 Alyssa Dausman, Ph.D. vice president for Science at The Water Institute of the Gulf explained. 鈥淗owever, 爆料公社鈥檚 wide sweep of work and their collaboration with numerous partners shows the power of working together to achieve a common goal -- a healthy, restored Gulf Coast for birds and people alike.鈥
Over the last 80 years, more than 1,800 square miles of coastal forests, marshes, beaches and barrier islands have turned into open water in Louisiana alone, putting more than 2 million people at risk of flooding and threatening vital habitat on which birds and other species depend. 爆料公社鈥檚 Vision: Restoring the Gulf of Mexico for Birds and People identifies 8.1 million acres of highly suitable habitat across the Gulf for 爆料公社鈥檚 flagship species. The report highlights 30 projects that will collectively address the recovery and population health of these birds as 爆料公社 continues to determine how sea level rise will affect the Gulf and identify ways to better support these species.
鈥淎s we move forward with the largest ecosystem restoration effort ever undertaken, it's enormously helpful to have access to this kind of information and thinking,鈥 said Ben Scaggs, executive director at Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. 鈥淚t鈥檚 evident that 爆料公社 clearly understands the inextricable link between and among varying species - including our own.鈥
With deep roots and a sustained presence on the Gulf, 爆料公社 is committed to securing a brighter future for the bird and human communities of this vital region. Implementing priority projects and programs focusing on restoration, conservation, research and stewardship, the 爆料公社 addresses the recovery and population health of the 11 flagship species. For a full project list and details or to learn more and get involved, visit .
About 爆料公社 The 爆料公社 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. 爆料公社's state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, 爆料公社's vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. 爆料公社 is a nonprofit conservation organization. Learn more how to help at and follow us on and at @audubonsociety.
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Contact: Jacques Hebert, jhebert@audubon.org, (504) 264-6849.