We are proud to be selected as one of this year’s recipients of the Network for Landscape Conservation (NLC) Catalyst Fund, receiving an award for our Green Heart of the Everglades project. In partnership with the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes of Florida, this project focuses on securing 447,417 acres of mineral rights beneath Big Cypress National Preserve and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to safeguard a critical portion of the Everglades ecosystem while addressing historical injustices faced by these communities. Protecting this land is not only vital for ecosystem health, but also for honoring the cultural and environmental legacy of the region.

Founded in 2011 and supported by the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, the NLC serves as a strategic hub for knowledge-sharing and coordination among conservation practitioners. NLC and WildLandscapes International share a commitment to large-scale conservation that integrates community-led stewardship and promotes long-term ecological health. Both organizations emphasize building partnerships that transcend geographic and institutional boundaries, creating resilient ecosystems that support biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

NLC’s collaborative, cross-boundary approach aligns seamlessly with WildLandscapes’ focus on empowering Indigenous communities and local stakeholders to take active roles in managing and restoring their landscapes. Our shared philosophy is rooted in the belief that conservation must be inclusive, adaptable, and centered around the needs of both people and nature to ensure lasting impact across diverse ecosystems.

To support these efforts, NLC’s Catalyst Fund has been pivotal in enhancing the collaborative capacity of local Landscape Partnerships. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded over US$2 million to projects that address key conservation challenges, such as habitat connectivity, climate resilience, cultural revitalization, and Indigenous stewardship.

The Catalyst Fund also offers a Peer Exchange Program, which is designed to create a collaborative community among grantees to accelerate each Landscape Partnership’s development and success. The program features a two-year structure that includes monthly virtual sessions, in-person retreats, and opportunities for co-creation and shared learning. Curtis Oseola, Chief of Staff for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida will be on the cohort as a representative of the project and the many people who have come together to make it happen. 

This funding will support coordination, travel, and outreach, helping us to establish a co-management framework of the Green Heart project. Ultimately, this investment will bolster the Tribes’ efforts to reclaim stewardship of their ancestral lands and drive conservation across the broader Everglades. We are deeply grateful to NLC for their consideration and support on what is such a crucial project for nature, wildlife and people in Florida.