The Big Waters Land Trust recently unveiled their first Strategic Conservation Plan – a data-driven strategy that prioritizes six conservation values: Clean Water, Imperiled Species, Coastal Resiliency, Sustainable Agriculture, Access for All, and Carbon Sequestration.
By targeting urgent conservation opportunities, Big Waters aims to address current environmental challenges and build a framework for future resilience across Southwest Florida.
“It is our hope that this plan leads to new partnerships, increased resources, and more land saved quickly,” said Christine Johnson, president of Big Waters Land Trust. “It will take private and public funding to achieve our audacious goals, and we are in a race against time.”
Big Waters worked with Shafer Consulting to research Southwest Florida’s land-based challenges and concerns. Their service includes the critical watersheds of the Manatee, Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee Rivers, connecting inland ecosystems to coastal estuaries.
Rising sea levels exacerbate risks such as storm surges, habitat loss, and saltwater intrusion, highlighting the urgent need for coastal resilience to protect communities from the continued impacts of climate change.
In the plan, the regional land trust identifies nine high-priority geographic areas that have the greatest potential to benefit from their six Conservation Values: Terra Ceia, Upper Manatee River, Lower Myakka River, Myakka Ranchlands, Lower Peace River, Jacks Branch-Long Island Marsh, Corkscrew Swamp, Charlotte Harbor, and Cape Coral.
“By strategically identifying and then concentrating our efforts in these nine Focus Areas, we will maximize our chances of success and maximize our donors’ return on investment in our mission,” said Brooke Langston, Big Waters’ director of land protection.
Much of Big Waters’ Strategic Conservation Plan is proprietary and private; however, a portion of the document is available for public review at bigwaterslandtrust.org/scp.
Rotary Club of LWR grant
The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch recently awarded a $2,000 grant to Big Waters Land Trust to support environmental literacy and strengthen community connections.
“This contribution helps us provide more hands-on, nature-based experiences that connect young people to the environment and to each other,” said Shalla Ashworth, Big Waters Land Trust’s director of philanthropy.
Visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/events to explore opportunities to connect with nature. For more information about the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, visit lakewoodranch-rotary.com or call 941-870-0002.
Submitted by Tianna Boswell-Porter and Sam Valentin
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Big Waters Land Trust unveils new plan targeting most urgent conservation opportunities
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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