The land trust for louisiana is partnering with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service USFWS to restore and enhance terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on privately owned lands in louisiana

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded a $103,400 Cooperative Agreement to the Land Trust for Louisiana under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (CFDA 15.631) program. The grant supports a 5-year project to restore and enhance terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on privately-owned lands in Louisiana. Key activities include: forest management, stream restoration, tree planting, and grassland rehabilitation to benefit listed and at-risk species, improve habitat connectivity, and enhance coastal resiliency to climate change impacts. Through a sub-award with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Land Trust for Louisiana is implementing 643 acres of longleaf pine restoration, assisting private landowners with forest management on 3,700 acres of existing longleaf pine habitat, and protecting 240 acres of longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood habitat via conservation easements. These projects target habitat improvement for species such as the gopher tortoise, Bachman's sparrow, and northern bobwhite.

The proposed restoration and enhancement activities would occur within strategic focus areas identified in the louisiana partners for fish and wildlife program strategic plan as priority locations for restoration projects. These projects will benefit listed and at risk species and improve habitat connectivity through forest management practices and stream restoration. They will also add coastal resiliency and address stressors brought on by climate change by planting trees and restoring grasslands.