The Gopher Tortoise Council's mission is to provide professional advice for the management, conservation, and protection of gopher tortoises; encourage the study of their life history, ecology, behavior, physiology, and management; conduct public information and conservation education programs; and seek effective protection of the gopher tortoise and other upland species in the southeastern United States.
The J. Larry Landers Student Research Award is a competitive grant program offered by the Gopher Tortoise Council for undergraduate and graduate students. It supports research on gopher tortoise biology or conservation and management of upland habitats. Proposals are limited to four pages and should include a project description, concise budget, and the student's brief resume. The award amount varies, averaging $1,000 in recent years. Recipients are expected to provide a project summary for "The Tortoise Burrow" newsletter or present their findings at the Gopher Tortoise Council's annual meeting the following year.