2019 Birdathon Grants
Here are the grant recipients and their projects for 2019. The actual amounts to be awarded will be decided in the fall.
Jefferson Memorial Forest 2019
Project description: Promoting bird education in our programs- specifically providing tools that can be used to excite & teach children about native birds & how they can participate in citizen science to help conservation of birds. We plan to purchase at least 10 quality binoculars that can easily be used in programs by a variety of ages.
Kentucky Resources Council, Inc. 2019
Legal Services- the provision of individual assistance, both brief assistance & representation for those unable to find or afford representation by the private bar.
Programmatic Advocacy
-- representation of low-income advocacy groups in their efforts to seek intervention in utility rate case (ongoing)
--litigation over the KY coal combustion residual rules, which resulted in a settlement that brought coal ash ponds & landfills back under a permitting regime.
--a multi-year negotiated process that revised oil and gas statutes and regulations to better protect landowners and the environment.
--a successful campaign to deny private pipeline companies the right of eminent domain.
--two successful campaigns to prevent the construction of, and the “repurposing” of pipelines to move natural gas liquids from the Marcellus shale play to the gulf coast.
Education and outreach- These efforts will become part of a Kentucky Center for Environmental Justice that will conduct research, provide policy analysis, and educate the public and policymakers on important energy and environmental policy issues affecting KY.
Environmental Leadership Program-A program to train environmental lawyers and leaders will be developed that would accomplish the dual goal of increasing the organization’s capacity to focus on impact litigation and advancing KRC’s commitment to social & environmental justice by training a new generation of environmental lawyers to handle individual environmental cases for low-income individuals on a pro bono basis. With other lawyers handling these cases with oversight as needed from KRC, the organization could free up about 20% of its resources to focus on other program areas.
Kentucky Conservation Committee 2019
2 primary projects:
Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, Inc. 2019
Raptor Rehab is requesting a grant of $2000 to present ten RROKI educational programs at schools that are unable to afford the $200 per program fee. The funds will offset expenses associated with 10 program presentations including photocopied educational handouts, food & housing for the birds and related equipment (eg., travel crates & protective mats for presentation areas), and gas, as well as maintenance of the RROKI van.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve 2019
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust 2019
Funds will assist KNLT with our land acquisition efforts on Pine Mountain. The grant will help us with acquiring key tracts that are essential to protecting the forested wildlife corridor which is vitally important for plants, birds and other wildlife.
Louisville Nature Center 2019
Bird education programming for JCPS students is the project for which LNC seeks funding. Their goal is to have four adult educators for every sixty students. One paid employee and three volunteers.
Goals
Office of KY Nature Preserves 2019
Funds will be used to facilitate habitat improvement for edge dwelling & grassland birds. Cedar thinning as well as midstory & shrub management will be implemented to restore open grassland complexes & quality habitat edges. Prescribed fire will be used as a tool to promote forbs & grasses in the barrens. This active management encourages suitable habitat for many bird species.
Jefferson Memorial Forest 2019
Project description: Promoting bird education in our programs- specifically providing tools that can be used to excite & teach children about native birds & how they can participate in citizen science to help conservation of birds. We plan to purchase at least 10 quality binoculars that can easily be used in programs by a variety of ages.
Kentucky Resources Council, Inc. 2019
Legal Services- the provision of individual assistance, both brief assistance & representation for those unable to find or afford representation by the private bar.
Programmatic Advocacy
-- representation of low-income advocacy groups in their efforts to seek intervention in utility rate case (ongoing)
--litigation over the KY coal combustion residual rules, which resulted in a settlement that brought coal ash ponds & landfills back under a permitting regime.
--a multi-year negotiated process that revised oil and gas statutes and regulations to better protect landowners and the environment.
--a successful campaign to deny private pipeline companies the right of eminent domain.
--two successful campaigns to prevent the construction of, and the “repurposing” of pipelines to move natural gas liquids from the Marcellus shale play to the gulf coast.
Education and outreach- These efforts will become part of a Kentucky Center for Environmental Justice that will conduct research, provide policy analysis, and educate the public and policymakers on important energy and environmental policy issues affecting KY.
Environmental Leadership Program-A program to train environmental lawyers and leaders will be developed that would accomplish the dual goal of increasing the organization’s capacity to focus on impact litigation and advancing KRC’s commitment to social & environmental justice by training a new generation of environmental lawyers to handle individual environmental cases for low-income individuals on a pro bono basis. With other lawyers handling these cases with oversight as needed from KRC, the organization could free up about 20% of its resources to focus on other program areas.
Kentucky Conservation Committee 2019
2 primary projects:
- Project one is a continuation of work performed last year to produce a new climate action guide. This year’s project takes lessons from the completed guide and targets an eco-region for detailed action for climate and habitat protection. The primary goal is to identify and consolidate the most imminent climate-change threats/opportunities in this watershed region.
- New preparation and research are needed to support the defense of threats to the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund. We will engage the general public/community groups who support nature and land conservation initiatives in Kentucky to update them on these latest threats. We particularly want to focus this year on the outdoor recreation and economic/tourism aspects of the values these lands contribute the state. There is new research available in these areas that we can customize to a Kentucky audience to help support the value that these lands provide.
Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky, Inc. 2019
Raptor Rehab is requesting a grant of $2000 to present ten RROKI educational programs at schools that are unable to afford the $200 per program fee. The funds will offset expenses associated with 10 program presentations including photocopied educational handouts, food & housing for the birds and related equipment (eg., travel crates & protective mats for presentation areas), and gas, as well as maintenance of the RROKI van.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve 2019
- Purchase plant species, such as milkweed, native grasses & perennials $350
- Purchase & install a new internet-cable Livestream Nature camera, & IP camera, a network box, livestream, software & extra cabling. $485
- Upgraded water feature, with new pump $300
- Six National Geographic Birds of Eastern North America @ $13.00 each $80
- Add signage to new plant species $80
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust 2019
Funds will assist KNLT with our land acquisition efforts on Pine Mountain. The grant will help us with acquiring key tracts that are essential to protecting the forested wildlife corridor which is vitally important for plants, birds and other wildlife.
Louisville Nature Center 2019
Bird education programming for JCPS students is the project for which LNC seeks funding. Their goal is to have four adult educators for every sixty students. One paid employee and three volunteers.
Goals
- Providing an attractive bird blind
- Providing safe and user-friendly trails for hiking to view birds
- Provide education relating to local animal habitat especially birds
- Provide activities such as Owl hikes
- Encourage children to spend more time outside & become future stewards of the environment.
Office of KY Nature Preserves 2019
Funds will be used to facilitate habitat improvement for edge dwelling & grassland birds. Cedar thinning as well as midstory & shrub management will be implemented to restore open grassland complexes & quality habitat edges. Prescribed fire will be used as a tool to promote forbs & grasses in the barrens. This active management encourages suitable habitat for many bird species.