Keep reading for the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council, including information on this year's annual meeting!

Mark your calendars for the 44th Annual Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting in the Florida panhandle

The 2022 Gopher Tortoise Council Annual Meeting will be held November 10th-13th, 2022 at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport, FL. We're looking forward to seeing you in person! Stay tuned for more details on our website, www.gophertortoisecouncil.org, or follow us on Facebook.   

The GTC Student Awards Committee is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of J. Larry Landers Student Research Grants:

David Tevs - Influence of unpaved roads on demographic and epigenetic characteristics of the Florida scrub lizard in two imperiled upland habitats ($3,000)

Michael Brennan - Effects of forest management practices in the Ocala National Forest on a rare endemic lizard ($2,000)

David and Michael are both Master's students at Georgia Southern University pursuing different aspects of ecology and management of Sceloporus woodi. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful season of lizard spotting!

This annual grant program awards 1-2 grants of up to $3,000 for research led by undergraduates or graduate students. The next application deadline will be in early February 2023. For more information visit http://gophertortoisecouncil.org/grant-programs. 

Donna J. Heinrich Environmental Grant

This grant was established to support educators and organizations committed to developing educational projects about the gopher tortoise and the fascinating world in which is lives. The grant also honors Donna June Heinrich, an environmental educator whose life was dedicated to conserving wildlife and their associated habitats. Up to $5,000 dollars is available for projects that reflect the intersection of conservation for gopher tortoises, commensal species, and their associated habitat. 

The deadline for grant proposals is September 30th each year. Requirements, instructions, and an application form 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..