Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Longleaf Stewardship Fund

A public/private partnership between…

Southern CompanyUS Department of DefenseNatural Resources Conservation ServiceUSDA Forest ServiceUS Fish and Wildlife ServiceNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation

That will…

Accelerate restoration and enhancement of longleaf pine ecosystem

Support the recovery of iconic and keystone species

Implement the Range-wide Conservation Plan for Longleaf

Support commitments of MOU adopted by DOD, USDA and DOI

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDOVERVIEW

1. Establishing Longleaf Pine

2. Enhancing and Maintaining Existing Longleaf Pine

3. Expanding and Coordinating Technical Assistance and Outreach

4. Accelerating Species Recovery

5. Building and Improving Organizational Capacity

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDFUNDING PRIORITIES

1. Range-Wide Strategic Restoration

• Grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000

• On-the-ground restoration projects across historical longleaf range

2. Place-based Demonstration Projects

• Grants ranging from $150,000 to $350,000

• Advance restoration within SGAs or “significant sites”

• Anchored by Military Installations/Bases, National Forests, FWS Refuges, and state or other protected lands

• One proposal per SGA is recommended

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDPROJECT CATEGORIES

Historical Longleaf Range

Applicants must be one of the following:• Non-profit 501(c)

• State, tribal and local governments

• Academic institutions

Match requirement:

• At least 1:1 match ratio of non-federal cash or in-kind services

Lands eligible for funding include:• Privately-owned lands

• State and local government lands

• Federal lands (through state or NGO partners; limited funding availability)

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDELIGIBILITY

In the second year…

•15 projects in 7 states awarded over $3.1 million

•$4.9 million in additional funds leveraged

•11 Significant Geographic Areas (SGAs) or Sites

In total, these projects will…

•Restore more than 13,500 acres

•Enhance more than 140,000 additional acres

•Educate more than 1,100 private landowners on longleaf and resources

•Engage 200 private landowners in stewardship programs

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUND2013 GRANT AWARDS

In its first two years …

•31 projects in 8 states awarded over $6 million

•Over $8 million in additional funds leveraged

•16 SGAs or Sites

In total, these projects will…

•Restore more than 24,000 acres

•Enhance more than 265,000 additional acres

•Educate more than 2,700 private landowners on longleaf and resources

•Engage 430 private landowners in stewardship programs

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUND2012 & 2013 GRANTS - TOTAL

• 2012 Projects submitted first annual progress report by Sept. 30th

• Progress to date (11 projects reporting):

• 2,622 acres planted to date (247 public; 1,175 private)

• 67,981 acres of prescribed burns (55,147 public; 12,834 private)

• 868 private landowners contacted through tech. assistance and outreach

• 146 private landowners committed to enroll in stewardship programs

• New report template; information included in ALRI Annual Accomplishment Report

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

Conservation Metrics Expected Project

Outcome1

Expected Acres on

Public Lands1

Expected Acres on Private Lands1

Actual Project

Outcome To Date

Actual Acres on Public

Lands To Date

Actual Acres on Private

Lands To Date

1. Total Acres of Longleaf Pine Impacted (Includes acreage listed in 2 and 3 below. If multiple activities occurred on same acreage, please count acreage only once)

2. Total Acres of Longleaf Pine Established2 (Should include any acreage listed in 4c below.) Acres of longleaf seedlings planted.

2a. # of seedlings planted

3. Total Acres Treated to Improve or Maintain Longleaf Pine Ecosystem3 (Will be less than the total of 3a through 3e if multiple activities occurred on the same acreage.)

3a. Acres of Prescribed Burning4

3b. Acres of Over-Story Treatments

3c. Acres of Mid-Story Treatments (mechanical/herbicide)

3d. Acres of Native Understory Plants Established

3e. Acres of Non-native Invasive Species Treatments

4. Total # of Private Landowners Engaged in Technical Assistance Expected Results

N/A N/A Actual Results To

Date

N/A N/A

4a. # of private landowners contacted through technical assistance and outreach

4b. # of new landowners committed to enrolling in farm bill conservation programs that benefit longleaf pine (should be subset of 4a)5

4c. Acres of conservation practices applied on private lands as a result of direct technical assistance to landowners (as part of acreage listed in 2 and 3)

5. # of jobs created/supported (if not directly supported by requested project funding, please describe relationship to project)

6. # of citizens engaged in education and outreach activities (this total can include 4a. above)

• Pineywoods Longleaf Restoration (LA)

• 51 landowners contacted through technical assistance and outreach

• 19 landowners enrolled in or committed to enroll in farm bill conservation programs benefitting longleaf pine

• “Restoring and Managing Longleaf Pine on Private Lands” field day and workshop, Kisatchie National Forest, May 23, 2013

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• Ft. Stewart/Altamaha Longleaf Pine Restoration (GA)

• 825 acres treated on public and private land

• 425 burned on Flat Tub WMA, Jeff Davis County, GA, 6/1/13, flames still active 2 days after fire (photo)

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUNDANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

LONGLEAF STEWARDSHIP FUND2013 - 2014 SCHEDULE

2013

•September 4th : 2013 Grant Announcement –Columbus, GA

•September 30th: Annual progress reports due

•Mid- December: LSF RFP Released and Applicant Webinar

2014

•Mid-February : LSF Full proposals due

•Week of April 7th: Southern Co. & NFWF Partners /LPC Meetings in MS

•July: Award announcements & 2o14 LSF Press Event