Florida Cattlemen’s Association Honors Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen
Photos by Conservation Florida
Leadership Recognized for Advancing Ranchland Conservation in Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 2, 2024) — Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen was recently honored with the Florida Cattlemen’s Assocation’s (FCA) Friend of Conservation Award in Marco Island at its annual convention. This accolade underscores Deen’s exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to uniting the realms of conservation and agriculture.
“The Florida Cattlemen’s Association is so proud to honor Conservation Florida’s Traci Deen with the Friend of Conservation Award,” said Florida Cattlemen’s Association Immediate Past President Pat Durden. “Traci’s energy inspires others to want to do better, and it is a true privilege to call her not just a conservation partner, but a dear friend.”
Under Deen’s leadership, Conservation Florida has spearheaded conservation efforts on ranches across the state, furthering one of the primary reasons the nonprofit was founded almost 25 years ago. Key to the Conservation Florida mission is the statewide initiative to connect and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18-million-acre network of green spaces crucial to the survival of species like the Florida panther. The Corridor includes approximately 3.2 million acres of ranchlands, vital habitats for numerous threatened and endangered species. Despite their importance, only 20% of these ranchlands are conserved, leaving many acres vulnerable to more intensive uses.
Deen’s forward-looking approach to conservation emphasizes cross-sector collaboration to bring all Floridians to the table. This includes Florida’s ranching community, which she hopes will advance the pace of ranchland conservation and address public perception of the role Florida’s ranches play in the state’s conservation future. By forging strong partnerships with ranchers, she has helped ensure the perpetual conservation of thousands of acres of working lands that are indispensable to Florida’s future. Her efforts have conserved critical habitats and strengthened the bond between conservationists and ranchers, fostering a more united front.
It is a true life’s honor to work with the men and women of Florida’s cattle industry to conserve the land we love,” said Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen. “It is another honor altogether to receive this Friend of Conservation Award. Thank you to the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and to all our Floridian ranchers, because without ranchlands in our state, we have no Florida Wildlife Corridor.”
For more information, contact:
Sarah Shepard, Communications Director
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to connecting and protecting the 18-million-acre Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 35,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection to conserve the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, and wild places for future generations.
For more information, visit www.conservationfla.org and follow us on social media @conservationflorida.