We are pleased to announce that our new Wetland Loss Storymap is available on our website.
Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems in the world, and Florida has the most wetlands of any state in the continental United States of America. These wetlands are at risk from land use intensification, drainage and development. Using South Florida Water Management District data, we compared the wetlands that existed in 1999 with the wetlands that existed in 2023 and found that during this timeframe, significant wetland losses occurred in both Lee and Collier Counties.
Wetlands are essential for water quality, floodwater storage, and endangered species habitat. Protection of our remaining wetlands is a priority for the Conservancy. Learn more by visiting conservancy.org/wetlands.
Additionally, we are pleased to be launching a Florida Panther dashboard to provide information about where panthers live, what panthers need to thrive, and the threats to panthers. With only approximately 120-230 panthers left in the wild, it is critically important to protect the habitat panthers need to survive and recover.
The panther dashboard can be found at conservancy.org/pantherdashboard.
