Berry College, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, has been awarded $344,800 to support the restoration and long-term management of rare montane longleaf pine and calcareous flatwood ecosystems.
The grant, from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Longleaf Stewardship Fund, will provide the resources to restore and manage more than 3,000 acres of critically rare calcareous flatwoods and montane longleaf pine habitats on Berry lands and the adjacent Georgia DNR Wildlife Management Area. These habitats support a high diversity of native species, including several rare species such as Mohr’s Barbara’s buttons plant, a federally threatened plant.
“Berry’s living laboratory is a refuge for critically imperiled habitats, including calcareous flatwoods and longleaf pine. With NFWF’s support, Berry will substantially expand existing efforts to restore ecosystems and conserve at-risk species, support evidence-based restoration research and engage students in hands-on conservation work,” said Adrienne Ernst, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Studies.
“This partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will provide unparalleled opportunities for all members of the Berry community to learn about and experience these precious ecosystems and help sustain them for generations to come.”
Work supported by the grant will include prescribed fire, invasive species control and targeted habitat management. The project also includes the development of a 50-year management plan to guide coordinated, landscape-scale stewardship across the region.
The Longleaf Stewardship Fund supports efforts to restore, enhance and sustain longleaf pine ecosystems across their historic range in the southeastern United States — one of North America’s most biologically diverse habitats.
