This special guest blog was written by Brice Claypoole, a 15-year-old naturalist, conservationist, and all-around nature lover. Visit his blog at thekidwhocares.com to read more of his work.
Southwest Florida is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Some researchers place us within the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot, others, the North American Coastal Plain Hotspot. This means our area is home to more species than most other parts of the world. We have 4,700 species of plants—the 7th largest native flora of any U.S. state. More than 500 of these plants are threatened species. Our fishing, hunting, and nature-based tourism industries provide billions in income and thousands of jobs annually. Our nature also provides countless hours of enjoyment and relaxation to people of all ages.
Unfortunately, this bountiful and productive landscape has been exploited far beyond sustainable levels. Our wildlands have been torn up for farming, phosphate mining, and most concerningly, large-scale development. Development is destroying the very beauty that has drawn us here. Our forests, prairies, and wetlands are being converted to rows of houses. As Florida’s nature is rapidly paved over, wildlife has nowhere to go, recreation is limited to sterile sidewalks, and essential resources are destroyed.
Luckily, the solution to this issue is clear: stop irresponsible development. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. Many developers are quick to clear-cut natural habitats with no regard for sustainability or the environmental ramifications of their actions.
Considering this major issue, the question is, how do we safeguard our wildlife, recreation, and resources when it seems like we are working against the odds? The answer comes in the form of not-for-profit organizations who can acquire and restore natural habitats.
NGOs do not have adequate funds to do this job alone and better land use management will be an important piece of saving wild Florida. However, this cannot occur in time to save our dwindling nature, as the last remnants are rapidly vanishing. As Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast puts it, we are the last generation who can save Florida’s land. So how do NGOs maximize the impact they can have today?
Firstly, resources must be spent on land acquisition. While the improvement of already protected land is important, acquisition is essential as we race against development to save the last wildlands. Once remaining lands are protected, then they can be restored and maintained.
How do we get the most impact out of land preservation? We do this by prioritizing which lands to save. It would be ideal to preserve all remaining wildlands, but NGOs lack the necessary resources to do this.
What factors make a tract of nature a priority? A major consideration is the positive impact provided by a parcel of land as some areas are more important to humans and biodiversity than others. In Southwest Florida, this includes endangered mangrove swamp, dry prairie, pine flatwoods, and old-growth cypress swamp.
Another factor in considering which lands to prioritize is connectivity. Particularly during climate change, wildlife, from Florida Panthers to Mangrove Trees, must be able to migrate between suitable habitats to survive. The mixing of gene pools is also needed to avoid inbreeding depression.
Combining these techniques, we can create diverse and productive corridors of protected nature throughout Southwest Florida, safeguarding recreation, resources, and wildlife habitat for generations to come.
Please join the mission to save Florida’s environment! You can contribute by advocating for stricter regulation of development, joining or volunteering at a local non-profit, and donating to conservation NGOs like Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Together, we can save Wild Florida!
