The 2016 election has brought change in Washington D.C. as dramatic as any time in memory.  A major change in the White House and executive agencies, paired by compatible majorities in both houses of Congress.  What does it mean for land trusts and our agenda?  Member land trusts are invited to join a webinar with political analysts and conservation policy experts on Thursday, March 30, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm Eastern Time.  For more information, and to register, click here.

 There has been no better time to stand up for land trusts and conservation in Washington than the first 100 days of the Trump Administration.  Please consider visiting your Congressional delegation and executive branch officials in Washington during the 6th Annual Land Trust Advocacy Days, May 1-3.  For more information, and to register, click here.

 According to reporting from the Times-Picayune, some South Louisiana communities will be prone to flooding even with the $50 billion investment in Louisiana's 50-year coastal master plan.  Most of those funds are earmarked for erecting levees, restoring disappearing marsh and building new wetlands. For some 26,000 homes and businesses across the coast, however, the projects in the master plan will not be enough to protect them.

In these areas, Louisiana expects to offer a fraction of the master plan money to elevate homes and "floodproof" businesses in 16 parishes-- or to buy the properties outright. It's a voluntary program, and the specific properties have not yet been identified.  For more information about the adaptation effort, read the article.

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Solicits Proposals for the Sea Grant Education and Outreach Grant Program on Upland Restoration and Land Conservation.

 MDEQ is soliciting proposals in support of the Sea Grant Education and Outreach (EOE) Grant Program. The primary goal of this Program is to fund education, outreach, and extension programs to provide information regarding how upland restoration and conservation work provides benefits to connected downstream estuarine and marine ecosystem.  This project is being funded with RESTORE dollars.  The full announcement may be found here.

The Nature Conservancy Report: Preserving Open Space can Provide Social, Economic and Environmental Benefits.  

In a new report by The Nature Conservancy and Texas A & M University, researchers highlight the role that open space can play in reducing flood risk in the Gulf of Mexico region.  The findings provide guidance on where to target strategic land conservation to both reduce flood risk and conserve biodiversity.  The report shows how municipalities can use the preservation of open space to reduce flood insurance premiums for residents under FEMA’s Community Rating System program.  Find the full report here.  

 As a way to keep stakeholders aware of new funding opportunities, the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program has coordinated with several of the other Gulf of Mexico science and restoration initiatives established following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to update a two year funding opportunities calendar. The calendar will enable stakeholders to remain informed about opportunities and assist grant applicants in planning ahead and submitting their high-quality applications to the appropriate funding opportunity. For a printable link to the calendar, please visit the RESTORE Act Science Program website.