Our Planning and Science Project Work
We work to secure funding to conserve land and facilitate land protection on the local, state, and federal levels. We utilize cutting-edge science, developed by our partners at the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, to identify the most critical lands for water and wildlife including the Florida panther and many other threatened and endangered species.
We are experts in conservation programs, including local, state and federal land acquisition programs, wetland restoration, water storage, cost share and ecosystem service programs to maximize options that generate income and protect land, improve habitat, and restore water resources. We are trusted by landowners across the state to provide a science-based approach for land conservation that maintains natural and agricultural lands both ecologically and economically. We have extensive expertise in leveraging various government and private funding sources and bringing partnerships together to achieve landscape-level conservation.
We are also heavily engaged in planning, outreach and private lands management. Below we provide highlights of the FCG’s planning and science project work.
Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area (2020-2024)
The Florida Conservation Group, together with the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and the National Wildlife Refuge Association, has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) USFWS to provide the science foundation to establish the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area in southwest Florida. This new…
Florida 2070 Future Development Scenarios (2020 – 2023)
Within the framework of the Florida Agriculture 2040/2070 initiative, the Florida Conservation Group is collaborating with the University of Florida, 1000 Friends of Florida, and other key partners to engage proactively with the agricultural community and stakeholders, raising awareness about potential development threats and underscoring the critical significance of conserving…Florida Wildlife Corridor Science, Policy and Outreach Support (2022-2023)
The Florida Conservation Group is assisting the University of Florida in protecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor (the top three priorities in the Florida Ecological Greenways Network). FCG’s role includes helping to identify conservation opportunities based on NRCS, Forest Legacy, and other relevant conservation easement and incentive programs; serving as the…NFWF Southeast Aquatics Program: Managing Central and South Florida’s Ranchlands to Improve Water Quality Organization (2020-2023)
The Florida Conservation Group has partnered with Common Ground Ecology to implement a large, multi-year project to assist landowners with grazing management planning in central and southwest Florida. The project is funded by the United States Department of Agricultural (USDA) and involves working closely with private landowners and the USDA’s…NFWF Conservation Partners Program: Implementing Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management on Florida Ranchland (2021-2023)
The Florida Conservation Group is partnering with Common Ground Ecology to provide technical assistance to operators of working ranches to accelerate the implementation of prescribed fire and other practices to manage upland habitats that are vital for supporting gopher tortoise populations in southcentral/southwest Florida. By providing technical assistance to landowners,…Florida Panther Potential Habitat Model and Multi-Layer Prioritization (2015-2017)
The Florida Conservation Group, in coordination with the University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative and others to address the protection of habitat and corridors critical for the Florida…Florida Strategic Plan for Sustaining Military Readiness through Conservation Partnerships Phase 1 (2015-2016) and Phase 2 (2018-2020)
The Florida Conservation Group coordinated efforts to integrate relevant state and regional plans into the Florida Strategic Plan for Sustaining Military Readiness through Conservation Partnerships. This plan built upon existing collaborative efforts between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Florida, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, the…Florida Panther and Listed Species Habitat Priorities, Opportunities, and Threats Assessment (2017-2020)
The Florida Conservation Group, in partnership with the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, assisted in identifying the best opportunities for protecting priority Florida panther habitat and corridor conservation priorities in the context of other focal species and natural resource conservation priorities throughout the state. The project included…
