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The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

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The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

Southwest Florida

Florida panther
Florida panther.
© Larry Richardson/USFWS

Southwest Florida is an area rich in history and wildlife. The Nature Conservancy aims to protect the region's vast natural systems, including slash pine flatwoods, dry prairies, hammocks, sloughs, wetlands and coastal waters.

Wildlife
This area is the last stronghold of endangered Florida panthers. Protection of critical habitat is essential for this magnificent species' survival into the future. Southwest Florida is also home to many raptor species, including crested caracaras and snail kites; wading birds, such as roseate spoonbills, woodstorks and Florida sandhill cranes; and Eastern indigo snakes, Florida scrub-jays, grasshopper sparrows and black bears. 

Threats
Land clearing for development and agricultural operations, history of fire suppression, and invasive species are the leading threats to the natural communities here. Many of the region's habitats can no longer sustain needed ecological functions. Coastal development has also jeopardized many of the natural resources people enjoy and depend on for their livelihoods. These activities are causing additional threats to the long-term survival of the region's native plants, animals and natural areas.

Conservancy Action

Southwest Florida Program Map
Southwest Florida Progam Area
 

The Nature Conservancy is working throughout Southwest Florida to protect this vast landscape and its native plants and animals:

  • Since The Nature Conservancy began working with the Sarasota County Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program in 1999, we have helped protect almost 15,000 acres of land in Sarasota County, including critical lands along the Myakka River.

     
  • In 2002, the Conservancy assisted in the purchase of more than 28,000 acres of land in Hendry County as part of an overarching effort to create wildlife corridors that extend from the Big Cypress National Preserve to central Florida. More than 100,000 acres are currently in negotiation. We are also working to preserve enough land to ensure the continued survival of wide-ranging species, such as the Florida panther and Florida black bear.

     
  • The Conservancy is pursuing opportunities to build a permanent conservation framework in the region by working with the ranching community. The Conservancy will continue to offer ranchers innovative land protection strategies, such as less-than-fee acquisition, that establish conservation easements over environmentally intact ranches, and partnerships with government to restore degraded areas.
    East River, southwest Florida, by Jeff Ripple
    One of southwest Florida's spectacular rivers at sunset.
    © Jeff Ripple

Southwest Florida Conservation Corridor
The Conservancy has partnered with other environmental and government organizations in the Southwest Florida Coastal Conservation Corridor (SWFCCC) project. The SWFCCC will map a network of potential conservation lands from Dixie County all the way to Monroe County.