The voters approved a ballot referendum in 2002, and again in 2006, to tax themselves .25 mil in ad valorem collections for funding the acquisition and management of conservation lands. Conservation Collier has acquired over 4,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land, including lands which clean our waters, protect our community from flooding, and give our native wildlife a place to live.
Conservation Collier was also a partner in the Gordon River Greenway, a 2.5 mile trail and boardwalk system which meanders through the heart of Naples, providing access to unique resources like mangrove forests, pine flatwoods, and the Gordon River. The Conservancy was an active participant in the development of this project, which abuts the Conservancy’s campus, and was instrumental in advocating for the preservation of many of the acres which can now be seen from the Greenway’s path.
For more information on Conservation Collier, and visiting Conservation Collier preserves, visit the program’s website.
Florida is home to the one and only Everglades, the historic river of grass, containing vast landscapes filled with plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. In order to protect our waters and native wildlife, environmentally sensitive lands must be protected both within Southwest Florida and further north.
The Conservancy works to advise local and state government officials on priority acquisitions, potential changes to land acquisition programs, and more, as well as advocates for sufficient funding for these important programs.