South Central

NWF’s South Central Regional Center encompasses 12 states along the Gulf Coast and stretches into the Midwest. Priority programs focus on protecting and restoring healthy rivers and estuaries, conserving wetlands, protecting wildlife habitats, and connecting people with the natural world.

Flooding and property damage can be seen along a beach area.

Hurricanes, Climate Change, and Finding the Path Forward on the Gulf Coast

I know hurricanes. As a Coast Guard kid, I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, Outer Banks and Caribbean, and my adulthood has found me always near the water I … Read more

A light green turtle scuttles close to beach waves.

A Win for Florida’s Threatened State Parks

Last month the hard work of hundreds of thousands of citizens paid off. If you have already spoken up for Florida’s State Parks, relax and enjoy this victory in round … Read more

A residential neighborhood is situated near a power plant.

Carbon Management Regulations: Louisiana Spotlight

Carbon management is expanding widely throughout the Gulf Coast, and many large projects are on the brink of development. While these projects bring economic opportunity and hold important climate considerations, … Read more

A cow stands on a riverbank.

Flora and Fauna in the Bird’s Foot Delta: Looking Forward

Growing up in Louisiana, I was always aware of water and the rivers that carry it to the Gulf of Mexico. Despite this, I did not gain an understanding of … Read more

A person wearing protective gear walks through small flames in a forest.

The Power of Prescribed Burning: A Practice That Unites Us All

During a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I found myself captivated by the landscape as I drove from the airport. Vibrant fields of sugar cane and bananas sprawled on both … Read more

A sunset photo shows a person on a fishing boat. There are two birds visible, both mid-air.

Gulf Coast Beaches: Let’s Get Wild!

What do you think of when you picture the Gulf Coast? Swampy wetlands filled with wildlife like alligators, thriving tidal marshes home to sea turtles and some of the best … Read more

A bright yellow bird with a black beak perches on someone's hand.

Monitoring Bird Interactions with Offshore Wind Development

To tackle the climate crisis, we must transition to responsibly developed renewable energy such as offshore wind. Because no form of energy generation is without impact, offshore wind projects will … Read more

An alligtor (very dark green with thick, scaly skin and a long tail) slithers into riverbank vegetation.

Florida State Parks Under Threat

If you surveyed Floridians, the majority of them would likely agree that one of the best things about Florida is our state parks. We love our parks in Florida, and … Read more

A boardwalk can be seen in a lush, green forest.

Turtle Cove: Carbon Management Community Engagement in Louisiana

The Lake Maurepas monitoring project Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) manages the Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station on Lake Maurepas, which lies directly west of Lake Pontchartrain and is known for … Read more

A view of Tampa Bay from the water.

Tampa Bay at a Crossroads

Over the course of my life-time, Tampa Bay—the largest open water estuary in Florida—has gone from neglected and polluted to revived, revered and healed. For decades, elected leaders, government agencies, … Read more