The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Mark Tercek © The Nature Conservancy

“One thing is exceedingly clear: the vital link between vibrant ecosystems and human well-being.”

— Mark Tercek
President and CEO
The Nature Conservancy

As I write this column, the world’s attention is turned to the Gulf of Mexico, where massive amounts of oil continue to spew into its precious waters every day. 

A few weeks into the disaster, I flew over the spill with my colleagues who are on the front lines and saw firsthand the rust-colored ribbons of oil snaking around the Chandeleur Islands off the coast of Louisiana. These islands are one of many Gulf spots famed for the magnificent pelicans, herons, egrets and other water birds that nest and winter among the islands’ reedy grasses.

And now the oil is washing ashore, leaving a wake of damage to critical and fragile ecosystems. Salt marshes like Alabama’s Grand Bay are especially in danger. During spring’s high tides, an abundance of fish, crabs, birds, insects and other wildlife converge at this delicate intersection of ocean and land.

Images of oil-soaked birds are heart-wrenching. I am equally concerned about the shrimpers, fishermen, tour operators and restaurant owners whose livelihoods depend on the health and productivity of the Gulf.

The Nature Conservancy has worked for decades with these coastal communities and others to sustain the natural resources on which we all depend. All of these efforts might well be affected by the spill.

We are mobilizing Nature Conservancy staff and making our expertise available to help in any way we can. Our shellfish restoration team, for example, is at the service of federal agencies to help monitor potential impacts and assess damage. We are also working with partners such as Louisiana State University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to collect baseline data that will play a critical role in understanding the severity of the spill’s impact.

As this disaster continues to unfold, one thing is exceedingly clear: the vital link between vibrant ecosystems and human well-being. Healthy salt marshes, sea grass beds and shellfish reefs not only provide important habitat but also support jobs and protect coastal communities from storm surges and sea-level rise. Building the resiliency of these systems will be key to the long-term restoration of the Gulf.

The road to recovery will be long. But The Nature Conservancy will build on its history of on-the-ground and in-the-water success to help in that process. We are developing a Gulf-wide plan to restore the region’s vital resources — many of which were already suffering before the devastating spill. And we will continue to push policymakers to enact comprehensive energy and climate legislation to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and shift our country to a robust, clean-energy economy.

I have been heartened by the outpouring of support from Nature Conservancy friends. You can make a big difference to the Gulf Coast, its wildlife and the people who depend on it by spreading the word about what’s at stake or registering as a volunteer at nature.org/restore. And you can support The Nature Conservancy’s work as we determine both the extent of the spill and the necessary long-term restoration efforts in the Gulf states.

With global attention focused on the Gulf and its economic and conservation importance, it is my hope that this disaster serves as a wake-up call and as a catalyst for bringing more focus and funding to these waters, which are the lifeblood of both the Gulf’s many communities and its rich biological diversity.

Mark Tercek
President and CEO
The Nature Conservancy

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