The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. The agency has played a vital role in monitoring and preserving wildlife and the waters along the coast of Alabama since day one of the BP oil spill. General aviation aircraft has been an essential tool in providing speedy transportation of Department of Conservation officials to the coast to monitor the installation of booms in the waters, take aerial photographs of wildlife nesting sites prior to potential oil damage, and monitor the oil spill activity along the coast of Alabama. The Alabama Department of Conservation continues to utilize general aviation aircraft for trips from their central office to the coast of Alabama in their relief and prevention efforts of the BP oil spill.