Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks LCC
Conserving Fish and Wildlife Through Science, Technology, and Partnerships
The Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GCPO LCC) describes both a unique geographic region in southeastern North America as well as a new kind of conservation partnership. It is part of a national network of Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs). LCCs are partnerships among federal agencies, regional organizations, states, tribes, NGOs, universities and other entities within a region. LCCs leverage resources to define a common vision for sustaining natural resources and develop tools that improve natural resource management. The goal is to focus coordinated action and eliminate duplication to support shared conservation priorities across large connected areas, or landscapes.
Partners recognize that natural boundaries transcend political boundaries, requiring action at a scale impossible for any single partner. LCC partnerships will analyze both large-scale stresses - such as climate change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and water pollution - as well as large-scale opportunities - such as reforestation, land use planning, landowner wildlife habitat cooperatives, and new industries like biofuels. The goal is to help collaborating organizations to “prioritize the priorities” in support of sustainable and healthy populations of fish, wildlife, plants, and cultural resources as well as human communities. The GCPO encompasses all of Arkansas and Mississippi and parts of 10 additional states, from Missouri to eastern Texas to the Florida panhandle.
Banner photo is Buffalo National River, Arkansas by OakleyOriginals via Flickr Creative Commons
© 2012 Created by John Tirpak.