The NGO Special Recognition Award

The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) occurs in upland habitats of the Southeastern Coastal Plain in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. It is designated a keystone species because tortoise burrows provide shelter for ~350 additional species.

Gopher tortoises face many challenges, including loss of habitat, harmful forestry practices, disease, predation, and use for food by humans. This species has some form of state-level protection in each state in which it occurs. Florida harbors the largest portion of the population by far and tortoises reside in parts of all 67 counties. It has been estimated that the population has declined at least 50% (and perhaps up to 80%) during the last three generations. Florida listed it as Species of Special Concern in 1979 and a State-designated Threatened Species in 2007.

According to its website, “the Gopher Tortoise Council was formed in 1978 by a group of southeastern biologists and other citizens concerned with the decline of the gopher tortoise. The goals of the Council are: (1) to offer professional advice for management, conservation, and protection of gopher tortoises; (2) to encourage the study of the life history, ecology, behavior, physiology, and management of gopher tortoises and other upland species; (3) to conduct active public information and conservation education programs; (4) to seek effective protection of the gopher tortoise and other upland species throughout the southeastern United States.”

Gopher Tortoise Council (GTC) is a 501c(3) non-profit and tax exempt organization that relies on memberships and donations. Volunteer officers, state representatives, and committees coordinate and operate it. Since the late 1970s, GTC has held an annual meeting each autumn that moves around the handful of tortoise harboring states. These feature keynotes, oral presentations and poster sessions. For more than 30 years, the J. Larry Landers Student Research Award has provided funding averaging $1000 for projects related to tortoise biology, conservation, or management. For more than 15 years, the Donna J. Heinrich Environmental Education Grant has provided up to $2000 for developing tortoise-related educational projects. In 2015 GTC added the Bob Herrington Student Travel Grant. GTC has an extensive award program with six categories to recognize accomplishments and service. More recently added are the Joan Berish Annual Student Presentation Awards.

In addition, GTC has written Conservation Position Statements about habitat conservation, research & education, relocation, and solar energy development and a series of Candidate Conservation Agreement Products.

Thus, for more than four decades, the Gopher Tortoise Council has served a prominent role in this unique chelonian’s history, current status, and future. Florida is by far the most important of the handful of states GTC represents (53% of members are Floridians) and it deserves TWS Florida Chapter’s NGO Special Recognition Award for 2021.