The N.C. Coastal Land Trust (NCCLT) has received a grant from the trustees of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to support community-centered coastal conservation projects, according to a press release from the organization.

The $25,000 grant allows the NCCLT to organize community preservation efforts within the coastal area. The NCCLT aims to conserve wetlands and streams, working farms and community parks for all to enjoy.

“The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that the more communities feel a sense of ownership over their natural heritage, the stronger our state’s environmental stewardship will be,” Leslie Winner, the foundation’s executive director, said in the release. “NCCLT is partnering with integral community organizations such as the Gullah Geechee Commission to identify new opportunities for conservation, while also exploring approaches to make conserved land more accessible to the public in a responsible way. We are proud to partner together to help this organization achieve its mission and vision.”