New Conservation Area Increases Funding Opportunities

May 17, 2024 | Osprey

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced a new, federally-sponsored conservation opportunity – the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area. Covering approximately 4 million acres across Southwest Florida, this newly announced conservation area is located within portions of the Greater Everglades, Caloosahatchee River, Fisheating Creek, Peace River, and Myakka River Watersheds. The conservation area will protect a combination of working farms, ranches, wetlands, and forests, and will support the local economy, clean water, and a wide range of wildlife and plant communities.

Recognizing how generations of landowners have lovingly cared for this working landscape, the conservation area plan is a non-regulatory partnership for willing landowners and includes funding opportunities to conserve these priority lands. This funding comes from the Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund – which is appropriated by Congress – and can complement other county and state programs, increasing the number of conservation opportunities available to landowners interested in saving their land.

Local not-for-profit Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is an accredited land trust working to protect Southwest Florida’s land and water. The Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area includes a large portion of Conservation Foundation’s service area, and the organization is urging landowners with more than 50 acres within the specified area to contact them to learn more.

Conservation Foundation works in partnership with landowners throughout the conservation process, which is often complex. Having a partner well-versed in available funding programs, application processes, conservation easement terms, and all the other ins and outs of land conservation is invaluable when negotiating to protect your land and legacy.

Funding is extremely competitive and spots are limited. Landowners are encouraged to visit conservationfoundation.com/savemyland to learn more and get in touch with a member of the Conservation Foundation team.