Grant helps protect Georgia’s coastal communities

Feb 02, 2026

By Chad Previch, Senior Communications Manager

The grant will help restore damaged wetlands in Georgia. These ditches and clear-cutting were carried out as part of an unsuccessful attempt to build a road through the wetlands and drain them, damaging the ecosystem. (Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy)

World Wetlands Day, Feb. 2, raises awareness about critically important ecosystems

The Nature Conservancy and Norfolk Southern are working to keep Georgia’s wetlands healthy and resilient through a $25,000 grant from NS.

Reducing flood risk: The Thriving Communities grant supports the nonprofit’s Five Rivers Land Protection and Wetlands Restoration Project work in southeast Georgia. The grant will help residents and community officials prepare for and respond to flood risk by providing data about future land use and identifying critically important conservation targets.

Why it matters: Wetlands, which are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally, are being lost three times faster than forests. Yet wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies, and more.

Zooming in: World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 2 to help protect these areas. Norfolk Southern continues to expand its decades-long conservation efforts through grants and volunteer work to ongoing focus on environmental efforts. The company’s nature-based solutions efforts include our award-winning work for the U.S. coast and for the country’s forest system.

What they’re saying:

“The Thriving Communities Grant has supported the first phase of our Five Rivers wetlands restoration work, which includes performing hydrological assessments and wetlands enhancement planning. With this strong, science-based foundation, we will be able to confidently move forward in revitalizing our coast and the species that rely on it.” — Christi Lambert, Director of Coastal and Marine Conservation, The Nature Conservancy in Georgia

Read more about our sustainable rail initiatives and about our community-focused efforts.

NS Volunteers at a wetland in Fort Wayne, Indiana

NS grants have supported the health of wetlands across our 22-state network. Volunteers removed invasive honeysuckle and privet last Earth Day, clearing space for native species to grow at the Little River Wetlands near Fort Wayne, Ind.

Chad Previch leads external communications for Norfolk Southern in the areas of Sustainability, Community Impact, and Technology. He also manages messaging related to the company’s Government Relations and Investor Relations priorities. He joined NS in 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of PR and corporate communications experience.