Full protection for a vast tract of the Everglades…
A roseate spoonbill wading through water at sunset.
Protecting the Everglades Ecosystem Complex
WildLandscapes International has entered into an agreement with Collier Companies to acquire and protect 11,142 acres of private land, connecting Everglades National Park, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, and Big Cypress National Preserve (Big Cypress). The agreement will also allow WildLandscapes to acquire 458,277 acres of mineral rights in Big Cypress and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (Florida Panther NWR). The acquisition of these mineral rights will position the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with the opportunity to ensure connectivity between large conservation lands of southern Florida and prevent future harmful development or exploitation.
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Acquisition of Mineral Rights
Big Cypress and Florida Panther NWR were established in the 1970s, but the mineral rights were not included in the original acquisition, leaving the parks only partially protected. Collier Companies have retained the right to extract oil from the property and NPS and USFWS do not have the legal authority to prevent them from doing so. Purchasing the mineral rights will irrevocably protect the Green Heart of the Greater Everglades system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In a historic milestone for conservation in the United States, Congress recently passed the Great American Outdoors Act which permanently funds LWCF at $900 million each year. The passage of this sweeping environmental legislation can now make the 50-year dream of fully protecting Big Cypress and Florida Panther NWR a reality. Funding for this project is not competitive with Everglades restoration or other conservation programs in Florida.
A Florida panther walks toward the viewer through tall grass.
Florida Panther by vladeb CC BY 2.0