Page 20 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2016

COASTNOTES
LAND TRUST
LOCAL CONSERVATIONISTS RECOGNIZED BY THE LAND TRUST
Tstory by Lynn Lofton photos by Michael Sunderman and courtesy of Derek Fountain
wo local men were recognized by the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain at the organization’s recent fundraiser held at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. Walter Morton was the first recipient of the Conservationist of the Year award and Flowers White received the second Volunteer of the Year award.
“Walter Morton is an inspiration for his concern for the environment, interest in applying best management practices for the timber on his property, and the importance of educating youth about the environment,” said Judy Steckler, executive director of the Land Trust. “When his efforts to protect the Wolf River were nearly completed in Hancock and Harrison counties, he moved
on to Pearl River County and continued his work promoting the placement of conservation easements and/or land acquisitions along the river.”
To demonstrate how important this project was to him, he willingly placed a conservation easement on 200 acres of his own property. Morton also undertook a large restoration project, at his own expense, to remove loblolly and slash pine and replace them with longleaf pine. He has reintroduced prescribed fire as a best management practice.
To inform other land owners of the importance of protecting the Wolf River, he hosted meetings at his family lodge inviting his neighbors to learn about practices they can implement for improvement of water quality and protection of the river.
In her presentation to Flowers White, Steckler said, “The work of the Land Trust can only be accomplished by the assistance
of large numbers of dedicated volunteers who help physically maintain our properties. Many of our volunteers are High School and College students with no background or experience in working in forest, marshes, on trails and at historic places. This year’s volunteer of the year has generously contributed his time and talents and more importantly, his personal charm and delightful personality, for training, supervising, encouraging, and providing knowledge to these volunteers, and our volunteer program has been a huge success.”
White is a longtime resident of the Turkey Creek Historic area and has worked with the Land Trust and with the members of that community, to preserve and complete other community improvements in the Turkey Creek Watershed.
Land Trust for the Mississippi
Coastal Plain 228.435.9191 www.LTMPC.org
Walter Morton
Flowers White
20 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2016 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net