The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative seeks to permanently protect at least 65 viable gopher tortoise populations by 2020. To do this, they are raising funds to protect 100,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat in Georgia, Atlanta, USA.
The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative (GTCI) is a collaborative that aims to “Preserve Promote & Partner” alongside state agencies, conservation groups, for-profit companies, foundations and landowners to protect Georgia’s economic viability and multiple species of concern. Its primary mission is to prevent Georgia’s state reptile, the gopher tortoise, from joining the Endangered Species list, and in doing so, protect and restore tens of thousands of acres of longleaf pine ecosystems in Georgia.
The gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone species” in Georgia, meaning that over 300 other species depend on the tortoise for survival. These land turtles dig burrows up to 10 feet deep and 40 feet long that shelter them from extreme temperatures, fire and predators. The burrows provide a home for the tortoise, and for hundreds of other species including the eastern indigo snake, gopher frog, and pine snake.
