Conservation Florida Establishes Inaugural Regional Advisory Council in Northwest Florida
Conservation Florida has created its first regional advisory council in the Florida panhandle.
Pensacola, Fla. (July 1, 2021) — The Northwest Advisory Council will serve as a community champion of Conservation Florida and its work in the area. It will build a community that informs the organization’s decisions on the needs specific to northwest Florida.
“Conservation Florida’s creation of the Northwest Advisory Council addresses a critical need in our region. Conservation Florida has such a tremendous reputation throughout the state of working with private landowners to protect wild and working landscapes. I am honored to be a part of such an important group,” said Justin Beck, chairman of council.
Conservation Florida’s Northwest Advisory Council will provide the land conservancy with more in-depth, personal knowledge of the region that can be used to continue developing its holistic statewide strategy.
By learning more about the conservation priorities of Northwest Florida through its regional advisory council, Conservation Florida will be able to tailor its statewide conservation strategy to the unique challenges and opportunities in that area.
The council will increase Conservation Florida’s statewide impact by fostering a network of likeminded people and organizations committed to Florida’s conservation future.
“Protecting what makes Northwest Florida special for future generations is something I believe in dearly,” said Justin. “Having the opportunity to work with Conservation Florida is a chance to really make a difference and preserve the special places and way of life we enjoy here.”
The Northwest Advisory Council will ensure that the area gets regional representation in the land conservancy’s statewide conservation goals. This is the first of several regional advisory councils that will allow Conservation Florida to create a one-of-a-kind conservation plan for Florida that addresses regional differences.
Northwest Florida is a priority for Conservation Florida and a large component of the organization’s statewide strategy. Viewing the state regionally gives a clearer picture of the work that needs to be done and how the Conservation Florida team can adjust its land protection plans for different areas throughout the state.
In 2019, Conservation Florida protected the 717-acre property called Wakulla Caves as a part of a larger strategy to save land within the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone Florida Forever project. This Northwest Florida gem protects freshwater resources, offers world-class scuba diving and recreational opportunities, and solidifies a conservation corridor with key habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Conservation Florida plans to create more advisory councils in the areas its serves, such as Greater Central Florida and South Central Florida/Northern Everglades. This will strengthen its statewide presence, address the specific needs of the different regions of Florida, and allow its team to tailor conservation plans to the unique wild Florida areas it works in.
“We are building communities throughout the state in the areas in which we work to better understand the specific needs, community values, and goals of each region,” said Traci Deen, Conservation Florida’s CEO.
From the Everglades to the Panhandle, our landscape-scale projects are saving some of the rarest ecosystems and plant and animal species in the world.
Interested in getting involved with a regional council?
Email info@conserveflorida.org to learn more about how you can be a part of Florida’s conservation future and make a statewide impact!
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land trust with a mission to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy and nature-based recreation. Since our founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has led the way in strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through acquisition, facilitation and incubation of conservation projects.
We save land by developing conservation strategies, exploring funding sources and purchasing or accepting donations of land and conservation easements. Our other services include providing expertise to guide landowners through the land protection process, serving as a trusted community partner to support statewide land conservation and promoting land conservation through effective education and advocacy. Our vision is large-scale, and we are 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida – for nature, for people, forever!