Lakeland, Florida-based Publix is committing $1 million to The Nature Conservancy for two projects in the grocer’s operating area, one addressing water quality in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon and the other restoring longleaf pine forest in South Carolina. Both are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
“At Publix, our sustainability efforts are guided by our mission statement, which calls for us to be responsible citizens in our communities,” said Paul Osley, Publix director of environmental and sustainability programs. “Teaming up with The Nature Conservancy allows us to invest in science-based solutions that help restore the natural resources our communities depend on.”
The Indian River Lagoon spans 156 miles along eastern Florida’s coastal barrier islands and is home to more than 4,300 species, including fish, shellfish, wading birds, endangered manatees and a population of bottlenose dolphins found only in the lagoon. Excess nutrients in stormwater runoff contribute to harmful algal blooms that block sunlight, causing substantial losses in seagrass that marine life depends on for food and shelter.
The Publix donation will support the conservancy’s Runoff to Resilience pilot project, which will retrofit existing stormwater ponds with technology intended to improve water quality and manage water flow. The ponds hold water longer to remove pollutants from runoff before it reaches the lagoon. They also release water in ways meant to reduce local flooding and to mimic natural flows, which helps reduce erosion and improve habitat conditions. 
The second project will fund the restoration of natural conditions across 4,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat in South Carolina through prescribed burns, which reduce competing vegetation that consumes large amounts of water. The Nature Conservancy said that allows more rainfall to reach groundwater and improves forest health and wildlife habitat.
Longleaf pine forests once covered about 97 million acres of the Southeastern United States, according to the conservancy, and about 4 percent of that original footprint remains after deforestation, natural disasters and other factors. The conservancy said the forests are among the most biologically rich ecosystems in the world and play a role in returning water to nearby streams, wetlands and aquifers.
“The Nature Conservancy brings global expertise to challenges facing rivers, wetlands, lakes and coastal ecosystems,” said Temperince Morgan, Southern U.S. division director for The Nature Conservancy. “We know that lasting results come from strong local action. We are grateful for Publix’s support to advance clean water and thriving forests for future generations.”
Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S., with more than 260,000 associates and 1,442 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization working in 83 countries and territories, 39 through direct conservation work and 44 through partners.