Twelve-year federal review puts more than 100,000 acres of habitat at risk.
“The Eastern Collier Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan is an ambitious, forward-looking option to protect essential habitat that Florida panthers and many other species need for survival and recovery. Urban growth will still occur without the HCP, but with fewer conservation benefits than would be required by the HCP. Defenders of Wildlife remains committed to working with the landowners and FWS to make an HCP a reality. We strongly support a long-range plan that aims to secure the incredible biological diversity of this region well into the future.”
Like many parts of the Sunshine State, Southwest Florida is experiencing exponential growth, and the accompanying urban development and expanding roadway networks are putting vital habitat for the endangered Florida panther and many other wildlife species at risk. To protect habitat, Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation groups have been working with private landowners in the region for 15 years to help establish a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Unfortunately, much of all the work is threatening to unravel due to prolonged inaction by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that is causing landowners to back out of the HCP.
Frustrated Florida Landowners Back Out of Conservation Plan
“The Eastern Collier Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan is an ambitious, forward-looking option to protect essential habitat that Florida panthers and many other species need for survival and recovery. Urban growth will still occur without the HCP, but with fewer conservation benefits than would be required by the HCP. Defenders of Wildlife remains committed to working with the landowners and FWS to make an HCP a reality. We strongly support a long-range plan that aims to secure the incredible biological diversity of this region well into the future.”
Like many parts of the Sunshine State, Southwest Florida is experiencing exponential growth, and the accompanying urban development and expanding roadway networks are putting vital habitat for the endangered Florida panther and many other wildlife species at risk. To protect habitat, Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation groups have been working with private landowners in the region for 15 years to help establish a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Unfortunately, much of all the work is threatening to unravel due to prolonged inaction by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that is causing landowners to back out of the HCP.
Frustrated Florida Landowners Back Out of Conservation Plan
