The Conservancy Of Southwest Florida Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S UNIQUE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & ADVOCACY: THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY TEAM STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT LEADERS AT THE LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION ISSUES. THE TEAM WORKS HARD TO ADDRESS THE PROPER STEWARDSHIP OF THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCES BY COLLABORATING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, BUSINESS, ACADEMIC, AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS. CURRENT PRIORITY ISSUES INCLUDE SMART GROWTH, WATER QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT PROTECTION. RESEARCH FROM OUR SCIENCE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR MUCH OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION: SINCE 1979, THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION TEAM HAS WORKED TO PROTECT AND REHABILITATE NATIVE WILD ANIMALS, AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO REINTRODUCE THEM TO THEIR NATURAL HABITAT. THE CONSERVANCY'S VON ARX WILDLIFE HOSPITAL IS A FUNDAMENTAL PIECE OF THE NATURE CENTER, AND ITS TEAM OF STAFF, INTERNS, AND VOLUNTEERS TREATED OVER 4,000 ANIMALS LAST YEAR, OPERATING 365 DAYS A YEAR. OUR 5,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, SPECIALIZED TREATMENT ROOMS, A NURSERY, LAB, QUARANTINE ROOMS, A WILDLIFE EDUCATION CLASSROOM WITH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL OUTSIDE RECOVERY ENCLOSURES FOR EXTENDED CARE.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & RESEARCH: CONSERVANCY SCIENTISTS HAVE AN ACTIVE RESEARCH AGENDA AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. WITH MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE, THESE SCIENTISTS HAVE ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO TACKLE CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDING ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAMS, INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, WESTERN EVERGLADES RESTORATION, AND SEA TURTLE MONITORING AND PROTECTION. IN 2021, THE CONSERVANCY TEAM REMOVED 5,000 POUNDS OF PYTHON AND PROTECTED WELL OVER 400 SEA TURTLE NESTS ON KEEWAYDIN ISLAND.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. CONSERVANCY EDUCATORS PROVIDE ANNUAL HANDS-ON STEM CURRICULUM-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO MORE THAN 6,500 K-12 STUDENTS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEAM PROVIDES IMMERSIVE ONSITE FIELD TRIPS, SCHOOL OUTREACH AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND AWARD-WINNING SUMMER CAMPS. THE TEAM HOSTS A LITTLE EXPLORERS PRE-K PROGRAM, DELIVER DAILY EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR VISITORS TO THE NATURE CENTER AND OVERSEE THE DALTON DISCOVERY CENTER, WHERE VISITORS EXPLORE FLORIDA'S UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS, VIEW EXHIBITS, LIVE NATIVE ANIMALS, AND LEARN ABOUT ACTIONS THEY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENT.