Check out all the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council here, including:
- GTC's Code of Conduct
- Call for Nominations for 2021 GTC Service Awards
- Details on available grants
Gopher Tortoise Council Code of Conduct
The current Gopher Tortoise Council Code of Conduct was approved by the GTC Executive Board on November 6, 2020. The Gopher Tortoise Council is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, supportive, welcoming, and professional environment. All GTC meeting, event, and social media participants are expected to adhere to the GTC Code of Conduct.
Call for Nominations for the 2021 Gopher Tortoise Council Service Awards
Every year, the GTC board recognizes significant contributions of those within the Council and the larger community to our mission of education and conservation of gopher tortoises and their upland habitat through service awards (described below) presented at our annual meeting. Please send nominations for awards to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Monday, September 20th. We ask that you provide background as to why you think an individual is deserving of a particular award along with your nomination. Thank you for your help!
Distinguished Service Award - presented to those who have consistently offered years of service to the Council.
Lifetime Service Award - presented to individuals who have devoted a career to service of the Council.
Special Project(s) Award - presented to individuals who have taken the lead or played a major role in special GTC projects.
Conservation Education Award - given to individuals who have contributed to significant education and outreach activities relevant to conservation of tortoises and upland habitats. Candidates may be outside the realm of GTC. Includes a $250 cash award.
Auffenberg and Franz Conservation Award – presented to individuals with lifetime accomplishments and organizations with long-term efforts in conserving gopher tortoises and upland ecosystems. We should think broadly in choosing recipients for this award. The first recipients for this award were Walter Auffenberg and Dick Franz, presented at the 2003 Annual meeting (our 25th meeting).
Donna J. Heinrich Environmental Grant
The GTC Environmental Education Grant was established to support educators and organizations committed to developing educational projects about the gopher tortoise and the fascinating world in which it lives. The grant also honors Donna June Heinrich, an environmental educator whose life was dedicated to conserving wildlife and their associated habitats.
Applications which contain the following will be given preference:
- Projects that reach diverse and new audiences
- Projects that focus on the importance of conservation of intact upland ecosystems
- Projects that encourage community involvement
- Projects that have matching funds
Deadline for submission of this year's proposals is September 30th, 2021. Requirements, instructions, and the application can be found on GTC's Grant Program webpage. Submit proposals or send questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The J. Larry Landers Student Research Grant
The J. Larry Landers Student Research Grant is a GTC competitive grant program for undergraduate and graduate students. Proposals can address research concerning gopher tortoise biology or any other relevant aspect of upland habitat conservation and management. The amount of the award is variable but requests up to $1,500 will be considered. The proposal should be limited to four pages in length and include a description of the project, a concise budget, requested grant amount, and a brief resume of the student. This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to access funding for their projects!
The deadline for grant proposals this year is September 30th, 2021. Proposals should be submitted electronically in a Microsoft Word document to Betsie Rothermel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit the Grant Program page of the GTC website.