Pennies for the Planet engages students in raising money for NC's Lea-Hutaff Island

Walker Golder

American Oystercatcher chick

North Carolina’s barrier islands and the conservationists who protect them are receiving help from concerned young environmentalists across the country, thanks to the National Audubon Society’s Pennies for the Planet education and action campaign. Pennies for the Planet will provide vital support to help Audubon North Carolina coastal biologists as they diligently work to protect and monitor the birds, turtles, and other wildlife that inhabit Lea-Hutaff Island and encourage island visitors to share the beach with wildlife.

Pennies for the Planet materials, including a full color poster and educators’ guide, and a participation form with incentives and awards are available for download from www.penniesfortheplanet.org for classroom or at-home use.

Barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina protect the mainland from hurricanes and storm surges, but when roads and structures are built on these islands, the natural land erodes more quickly, thus losing this ability. This development also leaves less room for native wildlife and plants, including beach-nesting birds like least terns and piping plovers, as well as endangered loggerhead sea turtles.

Lea-Hutaff Island is one of the few undisturbed barrier islands in North Carolina, and Audubon North Carolina is working with the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Coastal Land Trust to protect the island for conservation purposes.

Pennies for the Planet is a powerful tool for motivating young people to learn about and become engaged in protecting biodiversity. Helping to protect Lea-Hutaff Island is just one of three ways the Pennies for the Planet initiative is supporting conservation programs this year. Alaska’s Arctic Ocean and Sabal Palm Forest in Texas will also receive critical funding and enhanced awareness through Pennies for the Planet this year. Each of the three projects will receive equal funding from the monies that kids raise across the country.

“Kids are our future conservationists,” said Audubon President David Yarnold. “This program gives young people a chance to learn more and be empowered by seeing results from their actions. We hope that this year’s conservation projects inspire them to get involved and realize that they can make a meaningful difference in protecting our planet.”

Since receiving support from Audubon and Toyota’s TogetherGreen initiative, Pennies for the Planet has raised more than $90,000. Donations made during 2010-2011 helped restore crane habitat along the Platte River in Nebraska, created monarch butterfly habitat in Arizona, and helped protect beach nesting birds along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, which is still recovering from last year’s oil spill.

The Pennies for the Planet campaign is made possible by support from TogetherGreen, an Audubon initiative – in alliance with Toyota - created to promote conservation action and support current and future environmental leaders. Over the last decade, in conjunction with several other environmental organizations, Pennies for the Planet has helped tens of thousands of young people nationwide raise thousands of dollars to support species and habitat conservation.

About TogetherGreen

Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.togethergreen.org.