GCCF Supports Conservation Foundation

December 8, 2021 – Sarasota

Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently awarded a $62,500 grant to Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast to help fund the creation of a new Nature Interpreter position and program. Supporting Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Climate Change and Environmental Quality priority, Conservation Foundation’s Nature Interpretation program will provide equitable adult education experiences to educate, empower, and expand conservation understanding in the community. 

“For years we’ve worked to identify and save land that meets our protection criteria,” says Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “But our work doesn’t stop there. To ensure relevancy and future sustainability, we need to make sure our community is connected to the land we’re working so hard to conserve. We are grateful to Gulf Coast Community Foundation for investing in our mission and providing resources to help make more of those vital connections possible.”

Since 2003, Conservation Foundation has protected more than 18,500 acres across 48 properties, adding up to 29 square miles of conserved land. The land Conservation Foundation saves provides sweeping regional benefits, creating wildlife corridors, ensuring clean and plentiful water, providing opportunities for unique public access, and delivering economic and environmental benefits to support resilient communities. The Nature Interpreter will offer the community ways to experience and learn about our natural world as well as how land and water conservation affects their lives. The goal is to connect individuals to nature and facilitate a deeper understanding of local habitats, wildlife, and our delicate relationship with the natural world. The program will engage people from all walks of life to promote awareness and encourage behaviors that counteract the environmental pressures we face.

About Conservation Foundation

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast protects land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature.  Working with landowners, businesses, and government, Conservation Foundation saves land forever, protecting those special places that make this region extraordinary. A nationally accredited land trust, Conservation Foundation purchases natural areas, holds voluntary land protection agreements, and educates for responsible land and water stewardship in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. 

Learn more and join in their mission at www.conservationfoundation.com.