Atlanta – July 29, 2024
The Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Network (SFLR) is proud to announce that two of its member sites, Roanoke Cooperative and Black Family Land Trust (BFLT), have been awarded a significant portion of the Atlantic Conservation Coalition (ACC) sustainability grant. The $421 million ACC award, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to community-driven solutions and environmental justice, allocates $3 million to Roanoke Cooperative and BFLT for their conservation and land retention efforts.
The ACC grant is designed to enhance conservation efforts across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee. This funding will support the preservation of African American land ownership and promote sustainable forestry practices that benefit both the environment and the economic resilience of these communities.
“This grant underscores the vital importance of our collective work in sustaining African American land ownership and promoting conservation. The funding will significantly advance our mission to empower landowners and ensure the long-term sustainability of their properties,” said Bethaney Wilkinson, Executive Director, SFLR
“Receiving this grant is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our community. It will enable us to expand our sustainable forestry programs and provide greater support to landowners in our region,” Alton Perry, Director of Roanoke Cooperative.
“The ACC grant is a major milestone for our organization. It will help us to continue our efforts in protecting and preserving Black-owned land assets, ensuring that it remains a source of heritage, wealth, and environmental stewardship for generations to come,” Ebonie Alexander, Executive Director of Black Family Land Trust
The grant represents a significant investment in the environmental and economic health of African American landowners. With this funding, Roanoke Cooperative and BFLT will enhance their conservation programs, support land retention, and promote sustainable practices that benefit both the land and the communities they serve.
About SFLR
SFLR was launched in 2012 with assistance from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the USDA Forest Service. Their goal is to help rural Black landowners address heirs’ property and land retention issues and understand the value of responsibly managing forest land. Since then, additional supporters focused on redressing Black land loss have included the American Forest Foundation, Inc., JPB Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and Doris Duke Foundation.
SFLR comprises eight anchor organizations: The Black Family Land Trust; The Roanoke Center/Roanoke Cooperative; Center for Heirs Property Preservation; Limited Resource Landowner Education and Assistance Network (LRLEAN); MacIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (S.E.E.D.); Winston County Self-Help Cooperative; The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; and Prairie View A&M University. For more information: www.sflrnetwork.org.
About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities. For more information: www.usendowment.org.