The National Science Foundation and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced six awards for conservation science and action on behalf of key species and ecosystems, including two North Carolina projects.
habitat restoration
Albemarle-Pamlico resilience gets $27.25 million boost
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced funding for the agency’s National Wildlife Refuge System for Albemarle-Pamlico restoration initiatives.
Inner Coast: Mattamuskeet project aims to restore ‘balance’
Wendy Stanton, acting refuge manager for Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, says Lake Mattamuskeet is “out of balance,” but officials behind the work say the community’s enthusiasm for cleaning up the lake continues.
Coastal Land Trust acquires two Bertie County tracts
The conservation organization recently acquired a farm near Aulander and a large floodplain forest tract along the Chowan River near Colerain.
Rewetted drained pocosin can do a lot, like store tons of CO2
An ecosystem project in an NC peat bog could yield jobs, help with stormwater management and suppress wildfires and is part of an ambitious plan to create a carbon credit market to offset millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Trees, grasses available during TreeFest in Wilmington
More than 10,000 plants will be available during the two-day giveaway set for Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 at Independence Mall.
Live Christmas tree disposal options offered along coast
Residents can donate their trees to Fort Macon State Park and Surfrider Bogue Banks for dune stabilization or drop it off at a county convenience site.
Officials celebrate funding of Sugarloaf Island restoration
The legislature appropriated $2 million to restore Morehead City’s Sugarloaf Island, a barrier protecting waterfront attractions from coastal storms that has been rapidly eroding for decades.
Partnership updates maps for monitoring seagrass losses
Previous mapping efforts have shown declines in submerged aquatic vegetation.
Sugars secreted by seagrass roots sweeten habitat: Study
The finding could increase the understanding of what’s going on in the sediment below and around seagrass root systems and improve seagrass conservation approaches.
Federation, Coastal Environmental expand shell recycling
The Coastal Environmental Partnership is working with the North Carolina Coastal Federation to add drop-off sites for oyster shells in Craven and Pamlico counties
Bipartisan bill would protect birds, beach communities
The Shoreline Health Oversight, Restoration, Resilience, and Enhancement Act would preserve coastal habitat while providing affordable, alternative sand sources used for beach nourishment projects, writes guest columnist Andrew Hutson of Audubon North Carolina
Wilmington seeks input for Urban Forest Master Plan
Wilmington residents are asked to fill out an online survey to help guide a new plan to manage the city’s tree canopy.
Stormwater, flooding workshop to teach wetland protection
Registration is open for the workshop set for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the New Hanover County Arboretum and North Carolina Cooperative Extension Auditorium in Wilmington.
Sand from dredging expands eroded island habitat for terns
A recent dredge project has turned back years of erosion for a dredge spoil island near the federal channel in the Cape Fear River that supports colonies of royal terns and sandwich terns.
NC Supreme Court: Environmental grants can continue
The 6-0 decision means millions of dollars that Smithfield Foods pays as the result of a 25-year deal with the state nearly 22 years ago may continue to be administered through the state’s Environmental Enhancement Grant program.
