The Center for Conservation Initiatives

Overview

What is the Center for Conservation Initiatives?

At a time when humans are altering the world at an unprecedented pace and scale, the need for objective field research has never been more urgent. Conservation lands and biological preserves serve as the indispensable real-world laboratories that environmental scientists need to further our understanding of our planet and its processes.

The Center for Conservation Initiatives (CCI) serves as a networked, site-based science and strategy platform for TNC and partners to investigate critical conservation questions, demonstrate strategy, and connect people to the science. CCI advances conservation through education and training, outreach and volunteerism, science and research, and land stewardship in Florida.

To achieve this, we build on our long history of experience in land management and leverage our facilities by developing TNC Florida’s four flagship preserves into campuses with thoughtful programming to educate the public and support TNC’s top conservation priorities.

CCI is organized around three components for providing its programming to educate the public and support TNC’s top conservation priorities: campus preserves, online programming, and community engagement.

CCI's Vision, Mission and Initiatives

• Vision: A future where the conservation of nature is a fundamental and integral value in our community that is informed and underpinned by science and research.
• Mission: Advance conservation knowledge and action, and inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.
• Focal Initiatives: Our approach to achieving CCI’s vision and mission is based around four Initiatives:
  

Partners and Affiliations

Campus Preserves

The campus preserves serve as on-the-ground hubs where we partner with educational programs, schools, universities, colleges, agencies and communities to provide a hands-on environment to learn about and address critical conservation questions. These campuses provide educators with a unique opportunity to enrich the minds of their students in new and engaging ways.

The rich diversity of landscapes comprising our campus preserves reflects Florida's unique geography and biodiversity. From marine and coastal environments on the southeast coast to working forests in the panhandle, to the connected lands, waters and communities that make up the center of the state along with Florida's ancient wilderness, our campus preserves offer a collective diversity of geographies to expand learning opportunities and enhance scientific inquiry.

Natural Resource Stewardship

Florida has approximately 45 million acres of state land and water, with 32% under conservation and managed by either federal, state, local or private entities. Protecting and ensuring management of these rare lands are critical to the health of Florida’s nature. Conservation and working lands provide many benefits to communities and nature such as aquifer recharge, clean drinking water, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, jobs and abundant recreational activities.

Through the work of CCI, TNC protects, maintains, and enhances natural areas and native species’ populations, expanding natural resource management knowledge through stewardship in concert with outreach, education, science and strategy initiatives.

Stewardship of natural resources at CCI campus preserves contributes to TNC’s conservation mission through science-driven management and provides expanded education and outreach opportunities.

Non-Native Invasive Species Management

One of the top threats to biological diversity in Florida, invaders of all kinds, from minute grasses to 20-foot long Burmese pythons, occur across all natural habitats statewide.

Regardless of where invasive species are found, TNC uses the best available science, focusing on prevention, early detection, and rapid response. These efforts require knowledge of emerging problem species and quick attention to their removal before becoming established. For already entrenched species, we focus on controlling populations that have significant negative impacts on native species.

Beyond our preserves, we actively share what we learn with conservation partners through Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs), often serving in leadership roles on CISMA committees. Training our staff and partners in effective invasive species management techniques is a cornerstone of education and training efforts within the Center for Conservation Initiatives.

Habitat Restoration

The four CCI campus preserves use different restoration tools depending upon the habitat type, historical land use and location. We “think globally, but restore locally” because every site is unique and requires its own restoration plan. High-quality habitat restoration an important mission of CCI.

Steps in the habitat restoration process include determining the habitat’s history, setting short and long-term restoration goals, planning for the best possible restoration of the site and monitoring long-term progress and outcomes. When you visit a CCI campus preserve, be sure to ask a staff member about the habitat restoration projects.   

Fire Management

Known as the lightning capital of the world, Florida has a unique relationship with fire. Historically, lightning-ignited fires burned across the state in a patchwork mosaic every 2-3 years, creating one of the most complex fire-maintained ecosystems in the world. This unique landscape is home to one of five biodiversity hotspots in North America.

The Sunshine State has protected and continues to set aside lands for the preservation of its natural heritage. But for most species that call Florida home, like the Florida scrub-jay, gopher tortoise, Florida black bear and a long list of rare plants, land acquisition is not enough. Once the land is protected from development and fragmentation, it must be maintained with prescribed fire. Prescribed fire also helps decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfires to nearby communities and businesses by reducing the amount of fuels—dead branches and overgrown vegetation—that accumulate naturally over time.

There are now over 10 million acres of conservation land in Florida, over half of which require fire every few years to maintain biodiversity and community safety. Because the job is so large, TNC has made prescribed fire an important focus of CCI natural resources stewardship. Since 1979 TNC in Florida has played an active role in applying prescribed fire to Florida’s conservation lands and to training tomorrow’s prescribed fire professionals.

Conservation Exchange: Cultivating Partnerships and Building Connections

Conservation Exchange (ConX) is a transformative program facilitated by The Center for Conservation Initiatives (CCI), aiming to serve as a pivotal hub for collaboration and relationship building among natural resource professionals. This program is an opportunity to share and gain insights and approaches as you work together to solve the biggest challenges in the industry. The challenges addressed span from prescribed fire and invasive species management to restoration, water management and public engagement strategies.

Benefits of the Conservation Exchange Program

ConX offers a myriad of benefits to participants and their respective organizations. By bringing together professionals from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ConX cultivates lifelong relationships that foster inter-agency collaboration, career progression, and the refinement of shared best practices in land management. The program provides early and mid-career professionals with invaluable opportunities for hands-on problem-solving and the application of conservation techniques in real-world settings, nurturing future stewardship leaders in Florida. Additionally, the program's structure ensures continual collaboration beyond in-person training sessions. This is achieved through a comprehensive online learning platform and dedicated virtual communities, fostering continuous knowledge sharing and mutual support among conservation professionals.

Join the Conservation Movement Today

For natural resource management professionals across the state, the Conservation Exchange beckons as a beacon of opportunity and growth. Keep an eye out for upcoming sessions and seize the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and contribute to the advancement of conservation practices in Florida. Whether you're a park manager, forester, biologist, GIS specialist, or any other relevant professional, your participation in the Conservation Exchange Program promises to enrich your career, expand your network, and contribute to the collective effort of preserving Florida's precious natural heritage.

Science

An Environment for Science

Research

As a science-based organization, research is a critical component to our Science and Strategy work. We’re working to establish our lands as notable regional and national research sites by expanding research activity across the four campus preserves. TNC in Florida has seven preserves open only to researchers that provide access to additional species, ecological, hydrological, and geological research opportunities throughout the state.

Conservation Education and Training

Our Future Conservationists

CCI's goal for conservation education and training is to inspire and prepare the next generation of conservationists, through inclusive and engaging learning environments.

Providing access to on-the-ground conservation educational experiences and energizing youth to take volunteer action on behalf of the environment helps ensure future advocates for conserving our natural resources.

CCI’s formal and informal education and training programs are successfully providing valuable and impactful learning opportunities for K-12, college students, and natural resource professionals.

Become an Agent of Discovery and Supercharge Your Curiosity

The Nature Conservancy in Florida, in partnership with Agents of Discovery, has an exciting new way to explore our incredible preserves through interactive, augmented reality missions! 

This virtual learning experience was made possible thanks to generous support from the VoLo Foundation and Hixon Family.

To inspire a love for nature—and a passion to protect it—the Agents of Discovery App adds even more fun to your outdoor explorations while learning amazing facts about Florida’s unique ecosystems. Interact with virtual characters that bring our preserves to life! Challenge your mind with fun games, quizzes, and activities—discover rare plants, identify animal tracks, learn interesting facts and more. Unlock awesome rewards as you complete your missions. All you need to play is a mobile phone or tablet and the missions are available at the preserves, from home, or the classroom.

Adventure awaits at these TNC locations:

•  Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP), Bristol FL: Players hike the Garden of Eden trail with Agent Indigo the eastern indigo snake, learning how forces of nature like water, wildfire, hurricanes and tornados shape the landscape. 
• Blowing Rocks Preserve (BRP), Jupiter Island FL: Players discover the vital role of mangroves in protecting our coasts. Players help Agent Hermie the hermit crab identify different mangrove species and participate in virtual beach cleanup challenges.
• Disney Wilderness Preserve (DWP), Poinciana FL:  Players adventure along the trails to learn about the importance and interconnection of freshwater ecosystems. Agent Sandhill, a sandhill crane, highlights the Northern Everglades and how players can help conserve water. 
• Tiger Creek Preserve (TCP), Babson Park FL: Players journey through the unique Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem and search for animal tracks with Agent Avian, a bald eagle. This preserve is home to some of Florida’s most unique plant and animal species. While on the trail, users can also listen to and identify bird calls.

We have missions for everyone:

• Perfect for kids aged 8-12: Designed to inspire young minds and cultivate a love for nature.

• Fun for families and friends: Share the adventure and create lasting memories together.

• Educators: Turn screen time into green time! Make learning wild. Enhance classroom learning with engaging, interactive field trips.

How to Play: 

Download the free Agents of Discovery app on your smartphone or tablet, select your TNC preserve mission, and start exploring! Complete challenges, unlock rewards, and celebrate your achievements. Remember to log in to save your progress. Let's explore nature together and be passionate stewards of our planet!

The Hixon Environmental Stewardship Program

HESP Program Focus

• Support formal education programs for public K-12 schools and colleges through in-person and virtual learning (i.e. speaker series, organized field trips, educational materials, webinars, etc.).
• Provide professional-level hands-on and virtual natural resource training courses and learning opportunities targeted to conservation partners in fire training, invasive species, habitat restoration, monitoring, etc. utilizing the latest methods and technologies.
• Offer mentoring and professional conservation experience through internships and fellowships for students and early-career environmental professionals.

Conservation Internships and Fellowships

CCI offers internships and fellowships on diverse aspects of conservation to early-career individuals, providing hands-on experience in stewardship, outreach, education, training, science and conservation strategy.

Internships – Internships provide emerging conservation professionals the professional experience and skill development needed for entry-level conservation jobs. Interns receive stipends, housing, training and mentoring.

Fellowships – Fellowships provide professional development to individuals with broader experience, and generally have a higher educational requirement.  Fellows work more independently and are often project-based, but also receive mentoring and training.

Public Outreach

We offer a number of ways to get involved with educational opportunities, programs and activities such as shoreline clean-ups, sunrise sessions for artists and birders, virtual lectures and much more.

Visit a CCI Campus Preserve

• Hiking
• Jogging
• Birding
• Galleries and Exhibits
• Guided tours
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Picnicking