Florida's Gulf Coast region is a rich and unique landscape. From the coastal mangroves and hammocks to the pine forests and prairies far inland, the natural bounty of this place is astounding - and deeply imperiled. Within our lifetime, much of it may be plowed under, paved over, or returned to the sea. We are the generation that must act. Working together with partners, Conservation Foundation is protecting our region's natural landscapes. We partner with landowners, public agencies, and community leaders to prioritize and protect some of the most important, special places remaining here. While we protect the places which nature needs, we also recognize that it's critical to give people the opportunity to experience the bounty of nature directly. We provide people an opportunity to know and love the natural world right in their own backyard. We also understand the need for outreach and education to help ensure that decision makers set policy that advances conservation. To that end, we serve as a voice for conservation in our region. Conservation Foundation's Strategic Plan 2015-2020 charts our roadmap for achieving our vision through the following goals:Goal 1: Protect the most environmentally sensitive lands and special places in perpetuity through creativity, innovation, and the use of best practices. Goal 2: Citizens throughout the region are fully informed about and engaged in conservation. Goal 3: The essential resources are in place to ensure our impact and perpetuity.

Protect selected lands of significance to our communities with scenic and/or recreation value. Conserve and restore key ecosystem components, such as wildlife corridors, coastal uplands and riparian areas. Conserve and restore unique and imperiled habitats and species. Conserve and restore lands adjacent to public lands and linking conserved lands. Cultivate landowner relationships and secure introductions to the owners of key parcels we wish to protect. Use partnerships to maximize the impact of our conservation work and build a conservation ethic within the communities where we work. Work with conservation partners to define a set of broad conservation messages. Use story-telling opportunities offered by the lands we protect. Enhance Bay Preserve as an entry to our work. Utilize Pine Island Preserve to educate visitors on the importance of coast land conservation. Collaborate with organizations to deliver programs at Bay Preserve and Pine Island. Educate elected officials on land conservation benefits, cost savings, and priorities. Develop diverse, flexible, and sufficient funding to support short and long term operational needs. Strengthen tour brand and our communities' awareness of our brand. Attract and retain effective volunteer leaders and professional staff. Develop board representation and leadership to build our presence and influence throughout our service area. Cultivate relationships with key decision makers to assure a seat at the policy table.

Conservation Foundation is guided by a new 5 year Strategic Plan developed over a 6 month period that engaged over 160 stakeholders, subject matter experts and community leaders. Our plan establishes our conservation priorities which are: conserve habitat for imperiled plants and animals, protect shoreline and provide water access, connect conserved lands for people and animals, and provide unique, highly desired recreational access for the public. The Strategic Plan provide us with the clear vision and roadmap toward which we direct all activity. Our organization is led by a diverse board of experienced professionals who are committed to our success and who invest their time and talent helping us secure our future. Christine Johnson leads the organization as its President for these last 5 years and brings a strong track record of management and fundraising experience. She is joined by a strong management team with extensive experience in land protection, finance, fundraising & marketing. In 2010 Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast was officially accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent commission of land conservation experts. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Accreditation is the gold seal for a land trust and signifies good governance and excellent practices. It assures our supporters and the landowners, who generously protect their lands for all of our benefit, that Conservation Foundation is a sound investment with the means to protect land forever. Over the last year, we made important strides on the road to building a sustainable organization. Through a robust development plan, we are working to diversity our funding sources, enhance retention and deepen loyalty among supporters. We have increased grant research and applications, securing funding from a growing number of first time supporters while continuing to steward existing supporters.

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is working to accomplish the following by 2020:Tatum Sawgrass is preserved and connected to the Myakka River. Tarpon Point Landing amenities are expanded and enhanced. In-holdings within the Myakka Island are protected. Mileage of trails- both greenways and blueways- are increased. Implement the Pine Island Preserve park plan. Double visitation to Bay Preserve and Pine Island Preserve. Annual programming attracts 500 new visitors each year and engages 20% of donors annually. Improve entrance and access for Bay Preserve. Establish a $3-5 million opportunity fund that will facilitate rapid action to secure priority properties. Maintain a robust annual giving and planned giving program. Our brand is well known and valued. Our donor base has tripled.

We are making significant strides in our effort to conserve what is now over 8,000 environmentally significant acres in our “Myakka Island Conservation Corridor" project including pristine land in Manatee County. In December 2014, three properties totaling over 7500 acres within our project area received high ranking by the state's Florida Forever program, putting it in line to receive potential conservation funding. In August 2015, we added an additional 450 acres of important habitat lands to the Florida Forever priority list. We are working cooperatively with those landowners and have secured option agreements to purchase the land or perpetual conservation easements on all 8,000+ acres. We are currently applying for an array of public and private funders to complete the permanent conservation of the two largest properties. These properties will protect, restore, and maintain the quality and natural functions of land, water and wetland systems critical to this region, protecting drinking water and alleviating seasonal flooding. Retaining these natural lands supports a diversity of wildlife from the gopher tortoise to the Florida panther, and bald eagles to roseate spoonbills. Conserving these lands will protect working ranchlands and support Florida's agricultural economy. Finally, it will support eco-tourism by buffering and potentially expanding recreational opportunities along the river and connecting already-conserved lands. Conservation Foundation has conserved 230 acres on Pine Island, with the purpose of developing the site as a public park for conservation, protection and enhancement of natural resources and public outdoor recreation. Portions of the Preserve will serve as a public park complete with trails, a pavilion, parking and restrooms, and a wildlife observation platform. The waterfront portion of the property will be utilized as a public canoe and kayak launch, providing needed public water access to Matlacha Pass Acquatic Preserve. Habitat protection work is underway and we anticipate that we will break ground on site development in 2016. Conservation Foundation is committed to ensuring youth education and engagement is central to our mission work. We have successfully raised funding to launch our Youth in Nature Initiative, targeting local at-risk children, in summer 2016. The Youth in Nature Initiative engages the target population in a series of experiences in nature. Our program focuses on creating incredible nature experiences which will produce life-long memories, build self-esteem, and instill a love for life, the future and the natural world. Stressing experience over education, the program will emphasize discovery, engaging participants in 'feel good' activities such as hiking, climbing a tree, fishing and kayaking, while changing lives in ways they wouldn't have been able to sitting at home, or behind an electronic monitor.