In Georgia, where 90% of land is privately owned, a new tool will help mobilize private individual conservation efforts, building toward an ecosystem-wide impact. "LandCAN is providing an effective tool for Georgians to find a conservation program or service that might be right for them." - Terrance Rudolph, Georgia State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
YARMOUTH, Maine, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Private landowners throughout the state of Georgia are invited to use a new, free resource that will help them "invest in their piece of the planet," in keeping with the theme of Earth Day 2022. Organized with the landowner in mind, Georgia LandCAN provides a unique, interactive stewardship marketplace for the people who own or manage working lands in Georgia.
Whether the need is for information, technical assistance, training, grants, or other support, the Georgia Land Conservation Assistance Network (Georgia LandCAN, https://www.georgialandcan.org/) helps individuals navigate the overwhelming patchwork of resources provided by federal and state agencies, county and regional governments, professional organizations, and nonprofits—all in one easily searchable location. Currently over 6,300 resources are searchable within 12 distinct state geographic regions by the following key topics:
- Carbon
- Conservation
- Energy
- Farming
- Forestry
- Invasives
- Grant & Cost-sharing Programs
- Recreation
- Tax
- Water and Soil
- Wildlife
"We recognize the critical role that private lands play in conservation, and the Georgia LandCAN tool offers a spectacular resource to incorporate conservation into landowners' management goals," said Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Regional Director for the South Atlantic-Gulf and Mississippi Basin Regions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The Georgia LandCAN supports vital collaborations critical to connecting lands and waters. We are proud to partner with Georgia LandCAN to further these efforts."
Leonard Jordan, CEO of LJ Conservation Matters, LLC said, "This resource network has exceeded my expectations. It's a one-stop shop full of critically important resources that are valuable and can help so many! The website makes it easy to find the many different resources available in your community. Check it out."
Few people in urban America appreciate the degree to which private land is essential not only for the production of food and fiber, but to America's wildlife and its water supply. This is particularly true in the Peach State, where more than 90% of a total 38 million acres is privately owned. Bees and other pollinators rely on the careful management of private farms and ranches, just as farmers rely on pollinators' services to produce Georgia peaches and many more crops. Yet from 2001-2016, more than 600,000 acres of agricultural and forest land in Georgia were paved over, fragmented, or converted to uses that jeopardize agriculture.
Georgia's 24 million acres of forest land provide benefits such as water quality protection, and they also harbor rare or endangered species such as the Gopher Tortoise, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and many others. Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association said, "Private forest landowners are vital to the environmental and economic success of our country. Empowering them with the resources to make wise decisions on the management of their property is essential to our nation, and Georgia LandCan is providing an essential tool to ensure their sustainability."
"Working with private landowners in Georgia is critical to our mission as an agency," explained Brad Alexander, Private Lands Program Manager with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. "While there are many private land programs, landowners often don't have the time or resources to find them. The Georgia LandCAN website provides Georgians a good place to start down the path of bettering their property to the benefit of themselves and their neighbors, as well as future generations."
"The Georgia Chamber welcomes the launch of the Georgia-specific LandCAN conservation data resource," said Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "LandCAN is to be commended for adding Georgia data to its expanding national database of conservation resources."
About: Georgia LandCAN is a project of the nonprofit Land Conservation Assistance Network (LandCAN, https://www.LandCAN.org). Since 2000, LandCAN has used a bottom-up approach to offer the country's private landowners the tools they need to manage their land profitably and sustainably. Nationwide, natural areas are being lost almost five times faster on private lands than on public lands. Fortunately, the number of users of LandCAN and associated state websites grows every year, and in 2021 many sites doubled their audience. Executive Director Amos Eno explains LandCAN's philosophy: "Land and healthy landscapes are essential to our quality of life, and people who own or manage land are the most valuable asset we have in expanding conservation."
Media Contact
Amos P. L. Eno, Land Conservation Assistance Network, 1 207-847-0589, [email protected]
SOURCE Land Conservation Assistance Network
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