The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Conservation by Design

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the diversity of life on Earth and science guides our work. Today, with more than 50 years of land protection experience in Florida under our belt, we understand that setting ecologically valuable land aside is not enough to ensure its long term conservation. Modern threats like invasive species, atmospheric deposition, and global warming are challenging us to practice conservation in new and varied ways. What’s more, our evolving, science-based approach tells us that our land, air, fresh water, marine environments are connected and part of one system. This is why our conservation strategy today extends to all the major ecosystems in Florida. We call it landscape-scale conservation.

Here in Florida, your support has allowed us to make great things happen on the ground and in the water! So far we’ve helped protect more than 1.2 million acres, centered on four themes.

Freshwater

Florida’s springs, streams and rivers matter to all kinds of critters — including humans. They also slake the thirst of some of the rarest plant habitats on Earth. We work to make sure these resources are both resilient to threats and connected to each other. Many species that live and migrate within our waters suffer and decline if pollution or fragmentation occurs.

Marine

Florida boasts thousands of miles of spectacular coastline and rich underwater marine habitats. The Conservancy leads innovative coral reef, oyster reef and seagrass restoration programs within these waters. Our scientists are careful to balance the needs of ocean and estuarine creatures with people’s immediate and future needs.

Northern Everglades

The world-renowned Everglades system begins north of Lake Okeechobee, in a huge natural area that is constantly threatened by development. The Conservancy has worked here for decades, mostly with owners of vast working ranchlands, to protect natural habitats and restore wetlands that ultimately benefit both nature and South Florida’s water supply.

Longleaf pine forests

Of a massive forest that once stretched almost unbroken from Texas to Florida to Virginia, less than 3 percent remains. Today, some of the best remnants of this once-dominant habitat are in Florida — where they are home to an amazing 300 bird and 2,500 plant species! We have joined with partners in a united effort to save these irreplaceable forest habitats.

Throughout these themes, the Conservancy increases nature’s resilience to the effects of climate change. Our policy work with folks in Tallahassee and Washington leads to better conservation decisions. We also are a leader on land management — performing and teaching invasive species control and the effective use of controlled burns.
The Conservancy collaborates with partners to achieve our goals. These include government agencies, private corporations and foundations, other conservation organizations and passionate citizens like you. By leveraging our work, we can multiply every dollar given to the Florida chapter by 10!