NFWF to Support Development of Florida Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Restoration Strategy

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced an award of up to $4.5 million to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and other entities in the state of Florida. The award supports the development of an integrated, far-reaching planning effort that will serve as a framework for the development and implementation of programs and projects under the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund that restore and conserve Florida’s Gulf Coast natural resources. 

The science-based restoration planning will be coordinated by FWC in conjunction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with technical assistance from the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Suwannee River Water Management District, and FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and will identify priority projects for future funding consideration from NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. The projects that ultimately receive funding will remedy harm or reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

In early 2013, a U.S. District Court approved two plea agreements resolving certain criminal charges against BP and Transocean related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Provisions within the plea agreements direct a total of $2.544 billion to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation over a five-year period. From that amount, NFWF will receive more than $356 million for projects to protect or restore natural resources in Florida. 

“NFWF’s approval of Florida’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Restoration Strategy represents a significant step in the identification and prioritization of projects and programs to restore and conserve Florida’s coastal habitats and replenish its important living resources,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “We appreciate the strong leadership the state of Florida has shown and support their desire to utilize a portion of the funds available under the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund for this important effort.  Together, we’ll work to remedy harm to Gulf Coast natural resources caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.”

Click on the project title below for more specific information:

Florida Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Restoration Strategy

To learn more about the state of Florida’s process for identifying priority Gulf Coast restoration projects, visit  http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm.

To learn more about NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund in Florida, visit http://www.nfwf.org/gulf/Pages/GEBF-Florida.aspx