Funds will focus on land conservation and water quality, building on restoration efforts in the Gulf.

(Washington, DC – Sept. 21, 2016) Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will commit $328 million over a three ­year period for conservation on private lands designed to improve water quality in the Gulf region. National and local organizations working on Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River Delta restoration—Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation—released the following statement:

“The USDA’s announcement represents an increased commitment to restoration in the Gulf of Mexico region at a critical time. By dedicating additional resources to build upon the RESTORE Act and other restoration investments, USDA is setting a winning example for how to maximize efforts to strengthen the Gulf ecosystem—and the communities that rely on it.

“USDA’s cooperative work with local landowners—including farmers and others—will create tangible and measurable improvements in water quality and conservation of water resources. This is an important step forward in the restoration process.

“We hope that other federal agencies will be similarly innovative in their leadership and commitment to the restoration of the Gulf Coast. We stand ready to partner with leaders on these critical efforts.”

Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.