As the National Park Service (NPS) weighs its options for Cumberland Island's Former Reserved Properties (FRP), the Georgia Conservancy has weighed in with a letter to Cumberland Island Superintendent Fred Boyles.  In the letter, Interim Coastal Director Will Berson expressed the Georgia Conservancy’s desire for 1) the creation of a guiding policy for all FRPs on the island, 2) our desire for the immediate removal of those FRPs in the wilderness that have no documented historical significance, and 3) our concerns regarding a potential lease extension on the historic Grange property.

Read Will’s letter to Superintendent Boyles here
What’s an FRP? Read the NPS newsletter that explains
 

In other Cumberland Island news, the Georgia Conservancy recently partnered with Keeping it Wild and Students Endeavoring for Enlightened Environmental Decisions for a service weekend over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  Our group of 47 logged 257 hours of service work, cleaned 4.5 miles of beach, and cleared over five miles of trail. The trip was sponsored by REI.
See the pictures from the successful service weekend
Read the Tribune & Georgian’s newspaper article

Governor Perdue’s water conservation package was introduced in the state Senate today by Senate Natural Resources Chairman Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) and Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens), the Governor’s floor leader.  Senate Bill 370, called the “Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010,” contains a mixture of conservation mandates and incentives.  Follow the Georgia Conservancy’s advocacy team as we follow SB 370 and other bills that impact our natural resources and wild places. Visit our legislative webpage and email Allie Kelly to sign up for weekly updates from the Gold Dome.

Take a day off for the environment: join us at the capitol for Transit Lobby Day on February 18.

Final report from Blueprints on Pin Point released

The Georgia Conservancy is pleased to report that the Pin Point Blueprints for Successful Communities project has been completed and delivered!  Pin Point, a historically African American community near Savannah, started a community visioning project last year with the Georgia Conservancy.  We thank all who participated in the process – your time and effort have made the finished product an excellent resource. 

A special thank you to Ms. Patty Deveau for her tireless enthusiasm and her commitment to this very special community.  Thank you to the Home Depot Foundation for funding this project.
See the pictures from the planning process
View the completed Pin Point report here
 

Youth Environmental Symposium? "YES"

YES  is an annual, statewide competition that encourages middle and high school classes or clubs to participate in student-led projects addressing environmental challenges in their own communities. The event is set for February 26 at the Atlanta Zoo.  Contact Karen Garland for more information.
 

Generation Green is back for 2010!

Please submit nominations for the 2010 Longleaf Award recognizing an emerging environmental leader (click here to read criteria).

Upcoming Generation Green events:

2/20 – Beltline clean-up service project
3/13 – Sunset hike to Stone Mountain
3/29 – Save Water Drink Beer at the SweetWater Brewery
 

Six new trustees were elected to the Georgia Conservancy’s board on December 5. They are: Deborah Baker, vice president for sustainable forestry, environmental and community outreach at Georgia-Pacific; Dameron Black IV a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology; Jason Rooks, principal of Clean Energy Strategies; Markham Smith, a LEED architect and principal of Smith Dalia Architects; Will Underwood president and CEO of Ironwood Insurance Services; and Jennifer Wellborn, an attorney and financial management consultant for Synovus. The board also elected the chairman of the Blueprints for Successful Communities Partners Committee, Charles McMillan III, as an ex officio member.