Dear friend of conservation,
One of the things I love most about this work is that no two victories are ever the same. This month, thanks to your support, we protected more than 1,500 acres of working ranchland and critical Florida panther habitat. We also helped rescue one of the rarest plants in the world. Different projects, different challenges, but one shared purpose: protecting the Florida we all love. Our Square One Ranch project, 1,564 acres of working ranchland in Highlands County, will remain both a productive agricultural operation and an important wildlife corridor for the endangered Florida panther. Thanks to partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Air Force, this remarkable landscape will continue supporting Florida's ranching heritage while giving panthers room to roam for generations to come. Learn more about the Square One project here.
You'll also read below about one of the smallest (but perhaps most extraordinary, and one of my all-time-fave) conservation successes we've celebrated. In July, our team helped rescue 37 federally endangered Rugel's pawpaw plants from the path of a new I-4 truck rest area and relocate them to their new home at our D Ranch Preserve. Found nowhere else in the world except Volusia County, protecting this rare native plant is a reminder that conservation isn't only about saving places, it's also about protecting the remarkable species that make Florida unlike anywhere else.
August is also National Make-A-Will Month, an opportunity to reflect on the legacy we hope to leave behind. For many of you, that legacy includes ensuring Florida's waters, wildlife, and wild places remain protected long into the future. If you are interested in making a gift to Florida, please reach out to our team today.
Thank you for being part of this mission. From panther habitat to rare native plants, this work is possible because of people like you who believe Florida is worth protecting.
Stay wild, |
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Traci Deen Conservation Florida CEO + President |
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Another 1,500 acres of wild Florida are now protected! Square One Ranch in Highlands County is a working family cattle ranch that provides vital habitat for Florida panthers, black bears, Eastern meadowlarks, and countless other native wildlife species.
By conserving this land, we're strengthening the Florida Wildlife Corridor while keeping Florida's agricultural heritage alive for generations to come. |
When one of Florida's rarest plants faced destruction, our team sprang into action. Alongside incredible partners, we rescued dozens of endangered Rugel's pawpaw plants from the site of a future highway rest stop and relocated them to their new forever home at D Ranch Preserve. |
This species is found nowhere else in the world except Central Florida, making every rescued plant count. D Ranch Preserve is in Osteen, FL, open daily from dawn to dusk with more than five miles of hiking trails. |
Five years ago, Florida made history with the signing of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. Conservation Florida was proud to champion this landmark legislation alongside partners including Archbold Biological Station, Live Wildly, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, WildPath, and the Bellini Family.
Together, we've now permanently protected more than 600,000 acres within the Corridor - safeguarding clean water, wildlife habitat, working lands, and the wild places that make Florida extraordinary. Here's to the next 600,000!
→ Watch the anniversary video |
Our annual Wild Florida 5K returns on Saturday, January 30, 2027, in Orlando. Go for a PR, take a stroll, or bring a furry friend. All are welcome, because all are protecting wild Florida by participating!
Registration opens at the end of this month, so keep an eye out!
→ Learn more & support |
Registration is now open for our inaugural Clays for Conservation charity fundraiser on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays. Gather a team of four or explore sponsorship opportunities and enjoy a morning outdoors while helping protect our water, wildlife, and wild places.
No experience necessary!
→ Register your team today. → Interested in supporting this event? Contact Kristin@ConservationFla.org |
It's swallow-tailed kite migration season! A favorite among Florida birders, these unique fork-tailed birds call Florida home for part of the year and migrate to South America for the fall and winter.
Last year, we shared the story of Townsend, a swallow-tailed kite who found peaceful refuge on Conservation Florida-protected land in Marion County.
Swallow-tailed kites rely on Florida’s wetlands, forests, and open spaces to find food, raise their young, and safely migrate each year. When we protect those places, we’re not only safeguarding one species - we're protecting entire ecosystems.
→ Read Townsend's story |
Do you own land in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape (Polk, Osceola, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties)? Applications are still open for our Private Lands Stewardship Program, offering technical guidance and resources to help landowners care for Florida's natural landscapes.
→ Learn more & apply |
Photographer Joshua Bodkin's Florida Cowboy coffee table book celebrates Florida's ranching heritage through stunning photography - and every purchase supports our mission. He’s got less than 10 copies left so snag them now! Thank you for your support, Josh! → Reserve your copy |
We're growing! Conservation Florida is hiring a Land Protection Associate to help us protect more of the Florida we love, faster.
This role works closely with landowners, government agencies, and conservation partners to protect important landscapes across the state.
→ View the job posting |
By giving each month, members of the Conservation Collective provide the support that allows meaningful conservation to happen. Be a part of something wildly important - plus, receive exclusive perks, behind-the-scenes updates, volunteer opportunities, and more when you join the Collective.
→ Join the Conservation Collective today. |
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