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Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge
This year, we celebrate a momentous occasion: the 121st birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System! For over a century, this incredible network of lands and waters has served as a beacon of conservation, protecting a staggering array of wildlife and providing cherished outdoor experiences for millions.
The state of Florida has just conserved more than 3,068 acres of rural ranchland along the Kissimmee River in Highlands County. The conservation easement was secured by the Florida Conservation Group, partnering with the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Florida Cabinet unanimously approved the purchase on May 23, 2023. We are proud to be a part of this land conservation victory.
There was Ramen and Rissotto, the alligators and Rivali, Remus and Cass, the hawks and owl who welcomed the approximately 150 guests at the Wild About Wildlife event to benefit the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge Association. The event was held outdoors in the lush gardens at the home of Richard and, Board Member, Dragana Connaughton in Palm Beach.
From Orlando south to Lake Okeechobee lies the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge, a region that plays an essential role in protecting and restoring water resources and contains more endemic species (found nowhere else) and some of the highest biodiversity in the nation. This area supplies the water needed for Everglades restoration and drinking water for one-third of all Floridians, and supports iconic species such as the Florida panther, the round-tailed muskrat, Everglade Snail Kite, Crested Caracara, wading birds galore, and many others that make Florida one of the most vibrant wildlife areas in the country.
The Conservation Partners Project (CPP), funded through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is underway in Florida. This innovative partnership between the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Florida Conservation Group seeks to protect habitat on private lands and restore wetlands in Southwest and South-central Florida.
