East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture

Protect and restore bird populations of the East Gulf Coastal Plain

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Habitat Conservation | East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture

Black Skimmer. Photo courtesy of Larry Goodman

THE EGCPJV focuses on 4 priority habitats

  • Pine-dominated Communities
  • Eastern Interior Grasslands
  • Freshwater Wetland Communities
  • Coastal Communities

The EGCPJV identified habitat priorities based on threats to priority bird species, the importance of each habitat to partner organizations, and how much of each habitat’s total extent is included within the East Gulf Coastal Plain.

Achieving Conservation on the Ground

Prescribed Fire

Almost all Southeastern upland systems, as well as some types of wetlands, have been shaped and maintained by periodic fire. Decades of fire suppression have degraded these systems and have changed the human perception of fire and its role on our landscape. Prescribed fire serves as a crucial management tool to restore and maintain these habitats, and its use is a critically important issue in the Southeast.  For these reasons, the EGCPJV has taken on the role of champion for prescribed fire within the region.

View or download a factsheet about Prescribed Fire

Black Belt Prairie Restoration Initiative

Conservation Focus

  • Restoring and managing natural habitat complexes within the Black Belt of AL and MS, with an emphasis on prairies and native warm season grasses.

Habitat

  • Eastern Interior Grasslands

Species benefiting

  • Landbirds
  • Upland game birds

Partners

  • Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  • National Wild Turkey Federation
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Longleaf Pine – Wiregrass community. Photo courtesy of Larry Goodman

Jackson Purchase Initiative

Conservation Focus

  • Restore and manage open pine systems in the lower coastal plain of AL, FL, LA, MS by using prescribed fire.

Habitats

  • Freshwater wetland communities

Species benefiting

  • Landbirds
  • Upland game birds
  • Waterfowl
  • Waterbirds

Partners

  • Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources
  • National Wild Turkey Federation
  • National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
  • Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

View or download a Jackson Purchase Initiative factsheet

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR. Photo courtesy of Toby Gray

Southern Pine Initiative

Conservation Focus

  • Restore and manage open pine systems in the lower coastal plain of AL, FL, LA, MS by using prescribed fire

Habitats

  • Pine-dominated communities

Species benefiting

  • Landbirds
  • Upland game birds

Partners

  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
  • Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • Auburn University
  • Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries
  • Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
  • The Longleaf Alliance
  • National Wild Turkey Federation
  • National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service

View or download a factsheet about the Southern Pine Decision Support Tool

Gulf Coast Rivers & Bays Initiative

Conservation Focus

  • Restore and plan for adaption to sea level rise in wetlands, aquatic, estuarine and shoreline habitats

Habitats

  • Seagrass
  • Coastal wetlands
  • Oyster reefs

Species benefiting

  • Landbirds
  • Shorebirds
  • Waterfowl
  • Waterbirds

Partners

  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • American Bird Conservancy
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service
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