Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida (Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties)

Collier County Conservation (Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City)

Everglades Ecosystem and Big Cypress National Preserve

  • Cities Involved: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City.

  • Significance: The western Everglades is critical for water flow, wetland preservation, and wildlife habitats.

  • Projects:

    • Everglades Restoration: Collier County is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which aims to restore natural water flow and wetlands.

    • Big Cypress National Preserve: Adjacent to Everglades City, this preserve protects critical wetlands for wildlife such as Florida panthers, black bears, and wading birds.

  • Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge: Located near Immokalee, this refuge focuses on protecting Florida panther habitats.

Coastal Conservation

  • Cities Involved: Naples, Marco Island.

  • Efforts:

    • Mangrove restoration projects protect shorelines and provide nurseries for marine life.

    • Sea turtle nesting protections on popular beaches, including Naples Beach and Tigertail Beach on Marco Island.

Conservation Land Acquisitions

  • Conservation Collier Program:

    • Acquires and protects environmentally sensitive lands like Caracara Prairie Preserve and Cocohatchee Strand Preserve, near Naples and surrounding areas.

Lee County Conservation (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Estero, Bonita Springs)

Coastal Habitats and Aquatic Conservation

  • Cities Involved: Sanibel, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero.

  • Key Areas:

    • Sanibel and Captiva Islands: Managed by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), the islands protect vital habitats for sea turtles, shorebirds, and manatees.

    • Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve: Near Estero and Bonita Springs, this preserve is crucial for fish nurseries and bird habitats.

Caloosahatchee River and Water Quality

  • Cities Involved: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Alva.

  • Efforts:

    • The Caloosahatchee River faces challenges from nutrient pollution and algal blooms.

    • Restoration focuses on improving agricultural runoff and restoring wetlands along the river.

Land Conservation and Parks

  • Conservation 20/20 Program:

    • Protects over 30,000 acres of sensitive lands in Lee County, including:

      • Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (near Fort Myers).

      • Matanzas Pass Preserve (on Fort Myers Beach).

      • Lovers Key State Park (between Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach).

Charlotte County Conservation (Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Englewood)

Charlotte Harbor Estuary

  • Cities Involved: Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Englewood.

  • Significance: Charlotte Harbor is one of the largest and most productive estuaries in Florida, supporting marine life and coastal resilience.

  • Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP):

    • Works to restore water quality and habitats.

    • Projects include mangrove planting, oyster reef restoration, and seagrass recovery.

Babcock Ranch Preserve

  • Location: Near Punta Gorda and part of the sustainable community of Babcock Ranch.

  • Features:

    • Protects over 73,000 acres of prairies, wetlands, and pine flatwoods.

    • Provides habitat for species like the gopher tortoise, bald eagle, and Florida black bear.

Coastal Habitat Protection

  • Cities Involved: Punta Gorda, Englewood.

  • Efforts:

    • Barrier island and beach conservation to protect nesting sites for loggerhead and green sea turtles.

    • Projects in places like Gasparilla Island and Don Pedro Island State Park focus on reducing erosion and safeguarding habitats.

Regional Key Conservation Initiatives

Florida Panther Protection

  • Cities Involved: Naples, Marco Island, Punta Gorda.

  • Efforts:

    • Expanding wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats across Collier and Lee counties.

    • Programs focus on reducing vehicle collisions with panthers through wildlife crossings.

Wetland Restoration

  • Cities Involved: Naples, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda.

  • Initiatives:

    • Restoration of wetlands near the Everglades, Caloosahatchee River, and Charlotte Harbor.

    • Enhancing hydrology in flowways critical to water quality and flood management.

Seagrass and Mangrove Restoration

  • Cities Involved: Cape Coral, Sanibel, Punta Gorda.

  • Efforts:

    • Seagrass recovery in Estero Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

    • Mangrove replanting along the coasts to stabilize shorelines and provide marine habitats.

Community Involvement and Organizations

  • Local Conservation Groups:

    • Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF): Focused on habitat restoration and water quality around Sanibel.

    • Friends of Rookery Bay: Supporting conservation in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve near Naples.

  • Volunteer Opportunities:

    • Beach cleanups and wildlife monitoring in Naples, Marco Island, and Fort Myers Beach.

    • Public engagement through environmental education centers in Punta Gorda and Sanibel.

Challenges and Future Goals

  • Urban Development: Managing growth in fast-growing cities like Naples, Fort Myers, and Punta Gorda while protecting natural areas.

  • Water Quality: Addressing pollution and algal blooms in estuaries like Charlotte Harbor and the Caloosahatchee River.

  • Climate Change: Mitigating sea level rise, increased storm intensity, and coastal erosion across all coastal cities.

  • Invasive Species: Controlling invasive plants like Brazilian pepper and Australian pine, and managing aquatic species such as lionfish.