Conservation Commitment

Rob Brown & Rosemary Eure

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Photo by Nancy Guth

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast was launched in 2003 by a group of community members who wanted to be better stewards to “the exquisite bays, beaches, barrier islands and watersheds that define the character and scope of our region.” 

Rob Brown and Rosemary Eure knew about this organization from its initial shoestring budget days, and they approved of its mission, which aligned so well with their own ideas and beliefs. Being native Floridians, they’re perhaps more conscientious about the environment than most—Rob was born and raised in Sarasota, and Rosemary grew up in Charlotte County. “We love the area here,” they both say, and from the passion with which they talk about it, the sincerity is obvious. It seems inevitable that Rob would join their Board, which he did a few years back. To this day, both he and Rosemary continue to be staunch supporters of what’s now matured into a very professional, well-run organization that’s doing impressive work.

“We’ve been involved with Conservation Foundation nearly since the beginning,” says Rosemary. “They hadn’t even purchased the property yet.” Rob adds that back then, the mission was smaller in scope. “There was a lot of discussion about how the public will have access to the waterfront, how municipalities might be encouraged to acquire property to guarantee access to water, and how we can create better access to nature in general.” 

Today, the mission has expanded to “protect the character, natural integrity, and biodiversity of the bays, beaches, barrier islands and their watersheds of Florida’s Gulf Coast by holding conservation agreements and owning nature preserves, educating for responsible land stewardship, and collaborating with individuals, organizations and communities.”

In addition, the Foundation offers a range of programs and opportunities that get people involved, such as the Conservation Community Book Club, the monthly Lunch and Learns, and special events like the April 10th Conversation with Clyde Butcher, a renowned Florida photographer. Plus, Rob notes that “We’re especially pleased with the Youth in Nature program. It gets kids into nature who wouldn’t otherwise have access. They hike, climb trees, and learn about the environment with ‘Wow!’ moments that have a lasting impact.” And there’s always the annual Palm Ball, a black-tie fundraiser that takes place in the stunning natural environment of Bay Preserve in Osprey, a private waterfront oasis on Little Sarasota Bay that also serves as home to the Conservation Foundation. 

Rosemary adds that “We look forward to the Palm Ball all year. The concept is tremendous, and the enthusiasm at the event is impressive.” But she and Rob do far more than just attend that event. Rob works hard year-round to get the word out about what the Foundation does and shares ways for others to get involved.

“Rob’s good at networking,” Rosemary notes. “All throughout his life, his family hunted, boated and fished this area. They know plenty of others who share their love of nature, though they’re not always as conservation-minded. It’s not that they don’t care, but rather that they haven’t yet been introduced to the concept and presented with how it benefits us all.” Rob makes every effort to share what he knows about why conservation is good for everyone.

Something Rob always points out is that Conservation Foundation is now an accredited land trust. “That’s a key factor in being a catalyst for more opportunities and it brings credibility to the table, since involving a nationally-accredited land trust is often critical to success,” he explains. Then he talks about some of the current initiatives, such as preserving key spaces in the Myakka watershed that are—quite literally—vital to what happens downstream. Or he talks about favorable tax implications for a property owner to allow a conservation easement. Or he helps educate land owners on ways to better incorporate natural places into the developments that are going to happen.

Rob goes on to explain that one of the current goals is creating corridors of connectivity. Right now, if you look at a map of the conserved areas, it’s simply a patchwork. Larger roaming species such as the Florida panther have a home range of about 200 square miles, so the only way to help them survive and thrive is to give them safe paths that are connected—that requires some strategic conservation acquisitions. “It’s not about saving ALL land,” Rob adds, “but it’s vital to save the right properties.”

“We love what the basic mission is,” Rosemary explains. “Conservation Foundation saves land—that pretty much sums it up.” And one of the things she and Rob are most proud of is how their own children have taken up similar interests. Their daughter developed a strong environmental conscience and is in her second year of law school with the goal of writing environmental policy. Their son returns from school in Tennessee, drops everything, then heads to Charlotte Harbor with flyrod and skiff. “It’s immensely gratifying when you start to see your goals and values being echoed in the lives of your children. It just goes to show that having passion matters.”  

For More Information about Conservation Foundation  of the Gulf Coast, please visit www.conservationfoundation.com or call 941.918.2100.