Renowned Conservationist Eric Draper joins Conservation Florida's Board of Directors

Photo by Adam Bass

Conservation Florida Welcomes Eric Draper to its Board of Directors

Tallahassee, Fla. (June 30, 2022) – With three decades of experience shaping the process of protecting land, water, and wildlife, Conservation Florida is elated to announce Eric Draper as an addition to its Board of Directors. 

"Eric Draper joins us as a respected leader in the field of conservation and provides top-notch, effective counsel on conservation leadership, finance, policy, and strategy. I have no doubt his experience will strengthen our mission and influence our approach to protecting Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and wildlife corridor," said President and CEO Traci Deen.

Courtesy of the National Park Service

During his 30-year conservation career, Draper was a leading advocate for water and land conservation and Everglades restoration. He is known for being able to work with both business and agency leaders. He is credited with helping secure billions in new conservation and restoration spending, and influencing many major Florida environmental policy decisions. With experience leading campaigns to get voter approval for land conservation fronts statewide, Draper was able to see the results of volunteers working in a professionally funded campaign, and the opportunity to make an impact. 

"Conservation Florida is making a real boots-on-the-ground difference in preserving land within critically important wildlife corridors and watersheds," said Eric Draper. "The remarkable staff and volunteers, and their commitment to doing what it takes to get things done, make serving on the Board of Directors and supporting the organization the best investment of my time and money."

Recently, Draper completed service as Director of the Florida Park Service. Under his leadership, Florida State Parks became the first four-time winner of the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Gold Medal for Excellence. Draper is recognized for raising park ranger pay, updating training, increasing revenue and budgets, expanding park acreage, advancing water restoration projects, promoting trails, and encouraging park volunteers and philanthropy.

Before being asked to lead the Florida Park Service, Draper was Executive Director of Audubon Florida. He oversaw a seven million dollar annual budget, recruited and built a philanthropic board, managed a staff of 90, and grew Audubon’s chapter and volunteer networks. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Policy at the National Audubon Society, the Florida House of Representatives Majority Office staff director, The Nature Conservancy’s Florida government relations director, and Clean Water Action's national campaigns director. 

Draper’s service has included EPA’s Environmental Finance Advisory Committee, Florida Agriculture Commissioner’s Water Policy Advisory Committee, Working Forest Partnership (co-chair), Water and Land Legacy Campaign executive committee, Sustainable Florida board, Florida Ocean Alliance board, the Clinton-Gore EPA Transition Team, the Florida Soil and Water Conservation Council, the Florida Water Management District Review Commission, Partners for a Better Florida (co-chair), and FSU Political Science Department (adjunct instructor).

"Like anyone who has met the voices of Conservation Florida, I'm very impressed with Traci and her staff," Draper added. "It's an organization that works because of the people that are involved, and the unwavering passion to pursue the protection of Florida."

Since its 1999 founding, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through the acquisition, facilitation, and incubation of conservation projects. The land conservancy is now actively working on over 100,000 acres. Conservation Florida's vision is large-scale and is 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida and to the protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor – from Pensacola to the Florida Keys. 

About Conservation Florida:

Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat.