CAIRO — Birdsong Nature Center has received the backing of the Grady County Board of Commissioners in their attempt to protect county land.

Kathleen Brady, Birdsong executive director, appeared before the commissioners last Tuesday night to request support in their attempt to put the central and eastern portions of the nature center into conservation easement through a Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) grant, a newly-founded program in its first year of awarding funding.

A sizable portion of Birdsong is already under conservation easement, Brady said, and the remaining 444 acres can receive the same protection with the grant.

“The purpose of this is for long-term protection of the property, specifically for the purposes of wildlife, water and native plant protection,” she said.

With the easement, the full nature center would be protected from development. Brady said that means people will be able to enjoy nature at Birdsong in perpetuity, and it would be a benefit to local wildlife as well.

Commissioners voted unanimously to provide their support for the grant application.

If the grant is approved, the entire 565-acre nature preserve will be protected and open to the public.

“People can come and see the benefits of being outdoors,” Brady said.

The grant also would allow Birdsong to hire more staff, increase marketing efforts and hold larger fundraising events, all of which Brady said would help the county as a whole.

Aside from the long-term benefits of protecting the land in question, Brady said there are some short-term benefits of receiving the grant as well.

With the GOSP still in its first cycle of funding, the state Department of Natural Resources is insisting on a great deal of publicity for successful applicants, Brady said.

That presents some opportunities to spotlight Grady County if Birdsong is ultimately successful.

“As far as we know, there aren’t many other applications going in from our part of the state,” she said.

In applying for the grant, Birdsong partnered with Tall Timbers Research Station, which acted as the grant applicant.

The group will receive notification in early February if their application is pre-approved.