The Nature Conservancy
405 Briarwood Drive, Suite 101
Jackson, MS 39206
www.nature.org/mississippi
Date:
27 September 2011
For Release:
Immediately
Contact :
Bruce Alt, The Nature Conservancy
(601) 709-4751
Trey Cooke or Dan Prevost, Delta Wildlife/Delta F.A.R.M
(662) 686-3370
News Release
The Nature Conservancy Awarded Grant to Restore Delta Habitats
Walton Family Foundation Supports Delta Partnerships
Jackson, Miss.— Waterfowl, black bears, deer, fish and other species are getting a boost, thanks to funding
for landowners to improve their habitats.
The Walton Family Foundation has awarded an $88,000 grant to The Nature Conservancy, in
partnership with Delta Wildlife, Delta Farmers Advocating Resource Management (F.A.R.M.) and Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The funds will be used for the initial development of a
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) for the Mississippi Delta through the US Department of
Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. In addition to improved animal habitat, Mississippi’s residents will also
benefit, with improved water quality in the Yazoo River, lower Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
The project is expected to involve more than 20 federal, state and private partners. Initial funds from
the Walton Family Foundation will support completion of an environmental assessment, determining eligible
management practices, identifying rental rates, and setting length of landowner agreements. The grant will
also be leveraged to garner nearly $2 million in additional funds, with the ultimate goal of restoring 4,000
acres of bottomland hardwood and wetland habitat in the Mississippi Delta.
The Nature Conservancy is one of the world’s largest conservation organizations working to protect
and improve lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy has a long history of fostering
partnerships with organizations, businesses, communities and agencies to achieve its goals, and is proud to be
working with the following organizations on this project.
An association of growers and landowners, Delta F.A.R.M. strives to implement recognized agricultural
practices which conserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the Northwest Mississippi.
Similarly, Delta Wildlife strives to conserve, enhance, and restore native wildlife habitats, wildlife
populations, and natural resources of the Delta and part-Delta counties of Northwest Mississippi.
MDEQ’s mission is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of present and future generations of
Mississippians by conserving and improving our environment and fostering wise economic growth through
focused research and responsible regulation.
The Walton Family Foundation supports public/private partnership opportunities that contribute to
both environmental and social improvements. Their environmental giving focuses on achieving lasting
conservation in some of the world’s most important ocean and river systems to benefit both people and
wildlife by aligning economic and conservation interests.
For more information on this and other projects to improve Mississippi for current and future generations, please
visit www.nature.org/mississippi.
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