REGIONAL CONSERVATION PRIORITIES: SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 2024

     Each year at the annual Assembly meeting, the regional Conservation Committees set priorities for the upcoming year. The state priorities are compiled with the regional priorities and published in a pamphlet. Below are the priorities for the SW regional chapters: Peace River Audubon, Audubon of the Western Everglades, Audubon of the Southwest (Ft. Myers), Sanibel-Captiva Audubon and Hendry-Glades Audubon.

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     Florida Audubon has a long history in the Western Everglades region, beginning with hiring wardens to protect wading bird colonies from plume hunter, later creating the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (now a vital partner for these chapters), and lately helping to secure federal and state public lands. Audubon Florida and its five affiliated Southwest Florida local Audubon chapters are committed to working together to protect and restore the Southwest Florida watersheds and downstream coastal ecosystems in the face of rapid human population growth and increasing anthropogenic climate change impacts.

     Among the climate impacts, increasing termperatures and poor water quality that feeds harmful algal blooms remains a major threat in this region. This climate issue also intersects regional wetland protection, restoration, stormwater and pollution prevention policies.

     Coinciding with and quite related to climate impacts is the crisis of species declines and extinctions. Audubon organizations see these amongst avian species, but their food base of insects and plants are just as concerning. It seems that our local communities are powerless to address these declines, but this is not so.

     Regarding the vitally important issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion, Audubon and its chapters recognize the underrepresentation of diverse communities in our leadership, membership, programs, and staff. This lack of diversity, including not only in race, but also age and socioeconomic status, is a challenge to be addressed for everyone’s collective benefit. Our regional work could benefit immensely from collaboratively working with disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities.

 

Therefore be it resolved:
The five local Audubon organizations in the Southwest Florida Region, using sound science, professional policy guidance, and in complement to Audubon Florida’s statewide conservation priorities, will mobilize volunteer and staff leadership, members, allies, community leaders, elected officials, and government agencies to cooperatively advance four regional priorities:

 

1. Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms

• Priority one is to reduce harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida through nutrient source control, watershed restoration, wetland preservation, and protection of connected coastal and inland habitats from Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, Peace River/Charlotte Harbor, and Big Cypress and Corkscrew Swamps to their downstream estuaries and beaches,

• Support Audubon calls for advocacy relating to issues such as improvement of stormwater treatment infrastructure and removal of septic systems in densely populated areas. Additionally, SW Florida chapters may elect to engage in some or all of a variety of supportive activities on several levels — individual homes, neighborhoods, streets, municipalities, and counties. Examples could include: community science such as collection of water quality data, establishing rain gardens and cisterns, support for Low Impact Design strategies, and support for seagrass restoration.

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2. Conservation/Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat and Land of Environmental Value

• Support Audubon calls to advocate for purchase of environmentally sensitive land, conservation easements, and similar measures especially in Southwest Florida.

• Chapters may also wish to support local initiatives such as Plants for Birds Campaigns, native tree planting, urban wildlife habitat creation, turf grass conversion to native plants, and reduction of risk to birds from the built environment.

 

3. Enhanced Regional and Local Sea Level Rise/Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation 

• Encourage local government participation in the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Coalition,

• Assure governments fairly evaluate the University of Florida/Florida Gulf Coast University ACUNE+ and other models of sea level rise and climate impacts in planning actions required to protect human and wildlife communities at risk in Southwest Florida,

• Promote local and regional measures to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency through nature-based strategies such as watershed restoration (e.g., Horse Pen Strand and Charlotte Harbor Flatwoods purchase and restoration), offshore and oyster reef creation, coastal bird and habitat stewardship, or mangrove and sea grass restoration.

Increased Diversity of Chapter Membership and Leadership, and Support for Environmental Justice in All Our Communities

• In cooperation with diverse communities, support efforts to reduce negative environmental outcomes which differentially afflict under-represented groups.

• Assure that such activities as Plants for Birds, urban wildlife support, environmental education programs, and native tree plantings benefit all communities.

• Increase membership and leadership diversity by implementing above strategies.