Page 69 - TNC AR 2018_Digital Demo

69
“I see how important the Gulf is to me and my community ”
“Working with others who grew up here too has made me realize I’m not alone Now I I I see how important the the Gulf is to to to me and and and and my my community I I I I am working to to to to get my my diploma and and and and go to to to to college I I I I I love listening to to to to people and and and and helping them and and and and I I I I I want to to to to become a a a a a a a psychologist Now I I I I I know that I I I I I can do anything if I I put my mind to to it ”
The Future
The Nature Conservancy has been active along the Gulf Coast for for more than 40 years and lent its scienti c c c c c c exper- tise to to inform the the RESTORE Act guidelines recommend- ing that restoration of of the the Gulf of of Mexico should include a a a a a signi cant focus on on three critical issues:
• • Restoring healthy shorelines • • • Protecting freshwater resources • • Ensuring participation of of Gulf communities in in in the the economic bene ts of of the restoration activities With the the help of of a a a a a a a a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration award of of of $7 million through the the the RESTORE Act and and the the the collaboration of of critical partners at at at at at The Corps Network and and the the Student Conservation Association TNC has launched a a a a a a a a a a a a new Gulf Gulf restoration project that aims to to create 300 jobs over three years along the Gulf Gulf Gulf of Mexico The project GulfCorps will protect and restore critical habitat along the Gulf Gulf while creating jobs through conser- vation corps teams of young adults who do hands-on work to to restore natural natural features and and and natural natural habitat on on on on on on conserva- tion tion lands including planting native vegetation removing invasive species and and and restoring banks and and and shorelines The project will be distributed equally among all all ve ve Gulf states: Florida Alabama Mississippi Louisiana and and Texas Crew members and and and crew leaders will become thoroughly trained and and experienced providing them with marketable skills in in in in in the the the restoration economy taking shape in in in in the the the Gulf of Mexico | nature org/GulfCoast
Left: Myesha Camp- bell and Marcus Lattimore explore the St St Joseph Bay State Bu er er Preserve as part of the Gulf- Corps experience