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COMPASS Navigating our region’s future together

F I S C A L

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preserving our paradise for 60 years STAY CONNECTED | VISIT OUR NATURE CENTER | BECOME A MEMBER | SUPPORT NOW! CONSERVANCY.ORG 2 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Contents

C O V E R ST O R Y

O U R E N V I R O N ME N T AL T E AMS

This nnual eport re ects activities October , Please contact us if there are omissions or errors

eptember .

Board Chair John Walter

N O T E FR O M C H AI R

J ohn W al ter

4 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

President & CEO Rob Moher

P R E SI D E N T ’ S U P D AT E

R ob M oher

2022-2023 Compass Report 5

growing

6 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

THE FUTURE

In late February, we celebrated the opening of our Environmental Studies Dormitory, donated by Jeannie Meg and Christopher Byron Smith with support from friends of the Conservancy. We offer a broad range of internships, including environmental education, science exploration, sea turtle research, Burmese python research and wildlife rehab in the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Each year, around 30 interns venture their way to Southwest Florida to work directly with one of our departments and live on campus in our dormitory. The new Environmental Studies Dormitory allows our internship program to grow by 20%. “As we compete for regional, national and global talent for conservation interns, this wonderful new facility puts the Conservancy on the cutting edge to be competitive in attracting the best candidates,” Rob Moher, Conservancy president and CEO. The dormitory features sustainability including all LED lighting, highly energy eﬃcient design, extensive day lighting,

electric vehicle charging stations, and solar panels. In addition, each window showcases a “bird-strike prevention” design due to the fact that millions of birds die each year from ﬂying into windows. Among the excitement of growth and expansion, we said goodbye to a piece of the Conservancy’s story. In October 2023, the demolition of the Blair Dormitory began, closing the door on its 35 years of housing history. The Blair Dormitory had been a home away from home for the estimated 875 interns from all over the country who worked directly with our four programmatic departments. The building also provided oﬃces for the education department for many years. The demolition of this building has provided our campus with additional green space. As we look back fondly on the memories of the Blair Dormitory, we move forward with enthusiasm and momentum for all that is to come.

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E N V I R O N M

E N TA L

E D U C A T I O N

Summer SLAM by the numbers S ummer S L A M ( S ummer L earning A dventure M odules), supported by Naples Children ducation oundation NC grant funding, is a dynamic two- part program that c ombi nes the L earning A dventures Bus ( L A B) and our N ature Center. W ith 3 7 total programs, S ummer S L A M reac hed more than 7 0 0 students this summer. rom the new interactive sea turtle nesting game on the B s touch table to a moc sea turtle nest excavation, c ampers had the c hanc e to immerse themselves as future ﬁeld scientists. They were also invited to our c ampus for a tour and other learning activities. A s an added bo nus, c ampers rec eived a tak e home sc ienc e ki t.

Final summer SLAM numbers:

Total programs

8 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

736

Total students

conservancy.org/education

Conservation cruises to Collier camps for the summer

participants for A community events

participants for fairs, festivals and community events

A reached peo pl e at community events

LAB Field Trips Our earning dventures Bus B programs bring hands on science learning to schools that otherwise cannot travel to the Conservancy for an on campus ﬁ eld trip. n anuary, we launched two new programs for third and seventh graders about harmful algal blooms. The B provides fun T activities that are accessible to Collier County students and beyond. 2022-2023 Compass Report 9

E D U C A T I O N

SURVIVORS The seventh grade field trip, O , reached students despite urricane an s disruption to our boat schedule. n collaboration with oo ery Bay National stuarine esearch eserve, we invited five local middle schools on our pontoon, ood ortune , for a hands on experience to test and research water quality. The two part field trip also included the oo ery Bay field station and their sta members who taught students how to examine shar movements based on salinity tolerances.

Program funded by Broo s and oan ortune amily oundation

525 10 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

amount of students reached in Collier and ee counties

conservancy.org/education

Watery Wonders atery onders is one of our long running on campus field trips in partnership with Collier County P ub lic S c hools. A t our N ature Center, the students ex plored our S hotwell W avering ilter arsh, analy ed water quality, collected and identified a variety of invertebrates and fish, explored our nature trails and met a resident gator up c lose. The program reac hed 5 2 5 thirdgrade students this year.

S TE M programs funded b y: A ileen . ndrew oundation, rthrex Charitab le G iving P rogram, G lenn . Bailey oundation, innesota Twins Community F und, R ic hard . chul e amily oundation, tranahan oundation, The an Otterloo amily oundation

2022-2023 Compass Report 11

I I TAT I

ier closure impact e can ad

ss ons dro s gn can y a er

urr cane an.

After urricane Ian impacted Southwest Florida, an unexpected positive outcome emerged. Following the storm, the Conservancy’s von Arx ildlife ospital reported fewer admissions of injured pelicans. This change can be linked to the damage to the aples ier, a popular fishing spot in Collier County. ith its temporary closure, there were fewer fishing hooks and lines, reducing hazards for pelicans and other birds. The data suggests a connection between decreased fishing activity and the lower number of pelican injuries.

The Conservancy s von rx ildlife ospital has witnessed a signiﬁcant decrease in the admissions of in ured pelicans.

12 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

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d e

oanna it gerald, director of the von rx ildlife ospital, shared her thoughts on the broader implications of the hurricane s a ermath. t was heartbrea ing to witness not ust the destruction of the Naples Pier, but the widespread devastation throughout outhwest lorida. owever, in the wa e of such destruction, we noticed a drop in pelicans with fishing hoo and line in uries. That gave a small comfort for this team that is very dedicated to wildlife care. Now, while the community continues to grapple with rebuilding and re ecting on the hurricane s a ermath, there s a heightened awareness about the delicate balance between urban structures and the surrounding ecosystem. s a sta eholder at several meetings conducted by the lorida ish and ildlife Conservation Commission, the Conservancy of outhwest lorida, in collaboration with other environmental groups, continued to advocate for tighter regulations on fishing bridges, notably at the yway ishing Pier tate Par . Collaboration continues with e orts to increase pelican protection and angler education requirements at the ulf Pier at t. e oto tate Par . This action addresses concerns over birds frequently harmed by intense fishing activities at fishing piers statewide. Our combined e orts highlight the importance of protecting local habitats and ensuring safe recreational activities across lorida s ey locations.

Historical data points from the wildlife hospital indicate a distinct trend.

152 admitted

in ured pelicans

Oct. 1, 2020 Sept. 30, 2021 Oct. 1, 2021 Sept. 30, 2022

169 Oct. 1, 2022 Aug. 24, 2023* C N

N N T

TO T

71 P

2022-2023 Compass Report 13

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Compassion in the Community ospital staﬀ provided continued education and outreach eﬀorts in various forms



oanna it gerald conducted wildlife rescue training for residents in Bonita Bay. This is the ﬁrst time wor ing directly with a community to train residents on wildlife rescue and serves as a model for future training opportunities in gated communities throughout Collier and ee counties.

 The teams presented at a oo ery Bay ecotour training series to teach and train ecotour operators about proper wildlife rescue techniques and increase environmental ethics. 

ta shared comments at multiple Naples City Council meetings regarding the Naples Pier design to ensure pelican protection and rescue requirements are considered in the rebuild. There are opportunities for continued input to ma e the pier more user friendly for the public and for the rescue of pelicans.



oanna it gerald presented information and data to the Beach and Coastal esources dvisory Committee on arco sland regarding burrowing owl mortality due to second generation anticoagulants. The goal is to educate and increase awareness of the dire consequences of s and change rodenticides used on the island.

Marco Wildlife Rescues ildlife rescues just got a li le easier on Marco Island

14 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Brittany Piersma, ﬁeld biologist at udubon estern verglades, has done tremendous wor for the native wildlife in outhwest lorida and for the von rx ildlife ospital. Observing the public s need for tools and comfort when assisting an animal, Piersma created rescue stations at several locations in Collier County. Now, if someone ﬁnds an in ured animal, they can use the net and towels to rescue and contain it in the crate provided. Piersma provides her contact information to assist with the rescue if needed and ensure the animal is transported to the Conservancy. Piersma has our than s as she has gone above and beyond to aid the Conservancy in our mission.

conservancy.org/

d e

ear in eview O v er t h e p ast y ear, t h e v o n Arx W 3 , 5 9 4 animals.

ild lif e H o sp it al h as seen

3 2 %

5 8 %

1 0 % PT

2021-2022 Compass Report 15 2022-2023 Compass Report 15

I I TAT I

Annual Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower The annual ildlife ospital Baby hower ic ed o in une in support of in ured, sic and orphaned native baby animals during the breeding season. uring the month long event, donations were accepted from the ildlife ospital ma on ish ist, including items such as paper towels, soaps, writing utensils and more that allow the hospital to provide the best care possible. The event wrapped up with a family friendly day at n rolab Brewing Co. on une , which featured a specialty beer beneﬁting the Conservancy. n total, hundreds of wish list items and cash donations were accepted to aid our hospital teams in wor ing more e ciently to support native wildlife.

After Hurricane Ian urricane an caused damage to numerous wildlife facilities. Our von rx ospital sta immediately stepped in to support our neighbors. Over animals were transferred to us from other centers, including chimney swi s. e continue to help C O on anibel sland and Peace iver ildlife Center. 16 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

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Rescue, rehab, release t the von rx ildlife ospital, we support our patients through their ourney of rescue, rehab and release. Armadillo hit by a car receiving wound care.

4 eastern screech owls renested after their nest tree was cut down

Orphaned otter being hand fed.

Great horned owl nestlings renested after falling out of tree.

Peninsula cooter covered in barnacles.

Osprey juvenile pairs with adult osprey during rehab for comfort. 2022-2023 Compass Report 17

N SCI

ON C

NT S A

Ten years of Burmese python research and removal eﬀorts ative to Southeast Asia, hundreds of thousands of pythons were brought to Florida through the pet trade in the s. ythons have since become an established apex predator across the reater verglades cosystem and are thought to be responsible for a percent decline in native mammal populations.

18 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

conservancy.org/science

To eep this invasive species from multiplying and to protect native wildlife populations, the Conservancy began its python research and removal e orts in . n the decade since, the team has eliminated over , invasive sna es weighing in excess of , pounds from square miles of public and private land in southwestern lorida. sing radio transmitters implanted in male scout sna es, the research program aims to understand python movements, breeding behaviors and habitat use. cout sna es can lead biologists to elusive reproductive females, allowing researchers to remove them and their developing eggs from the wild. These e orts are signiﬁcant in fulﬁlling our mission of protecting outhwest lorida s unique natural environment and quality of life by reducing the overall impact on our native wildlife populations, said ob oher, president and C O of the Conservancy. ecogni ing the importance of this research and removal, people around the world have engaged with a spectrum of media coverage on the team s e orts. n the past three years, there has been over billion views of the Conservancy s python media coverage and features recogni ing the Conservancy s python research and removal e orts. Program funded by Naples oo Conservation und, ish ildlife oundation of lorida, nited tates eological urvey, outh lorida ater anagement istrict, Private Philanthropy

1 ,1 9 7 U M S T R E M O V E D

U DS F T R E M O V E D

3 1 ,5 7 2

S A C R E M O V A L A R E A STUD A A

1 6 0 S . MI

rom City of Naples south of and west of 2022-2023 Compass Report 19

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Python synthesis publication

Fish survey in mangroves

uring the years of Burmese python research and removal, the team has published scientiﬁc articles across a wide range of peer reviewed ournals. One in particular has been a ma or feat and success. The most recent scientiﬁc ournal, Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools, published by NeoBiota, is full of relevant and useful information on the Burmese python and puts the vast ma ority of what is nown to date under one publication.

The Conservancy has been monitoring the restoration of mangrove die o areas on arco sland since by comparing pre and post mangrove re establishment. estoration success can also be investigated by comparing the communities of ﬁsh and aquatic invertebrates insects, crabs, and snails inhabiting the die o areas with those inhabiting healthy mangrove areas. The aquatic faunal community before restoration was composed of only a few ﬁsh and invertebrate species that are tolerant of extreme water quality conditions. estoring tidal ow and mangrove habitat eventually leads to a more diverse aquatic community with certain species Mangrove Rivulus, a fish serving as indicators of species indicative of a healthy the health of mangrove mangrove ecosystem. ecosystems.

This was many years in the ma ing and our contributions, made by nvironmental cience Coordinator, an . Bartos e and Biologist, an asterling, were incorporated and cited extensively. Burmese pythons have negatively impacted lorida s ecosystem and native wildlife. The Conservancy is researching every day for new and improved ways to manage this invasive species across outhwest lorida.

Working on mangrove research and restoration was challenging at times - a lot of our plots were in hard-to-reach areas that could only be accessed by boat and involved a lot of trudging through mangrove mud to reach. However, it was all part of the experience - it showed me how resilient mangrove ecosystems are and why they

are worth protecting.” ulia alante, 20 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

summer science intern.

conservancy.org/science

Fairway feasts: Cane toads consuming urban pests As the project concludes after three years of research, Conservancy biologists Melinda Schuman and Dr. Jeff Schmid, along with Conservancy volunteers Susan Snyder and Copley Smoak, have published their findings on the diet of cane toads in Southwest Florida golf course communities in the online scientific journal “Animals.” Their article was part of a special issue highlighting the effects of urbanization on herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles). It reveals that within the golf course communities studied, cane toads mainly fed upon yellow-banded millipedes, hunting billbug weevils and bigheaded ants - which are all considered pests in these urban systems. Understanding what these invasive toads eat is key to interpreting their relationships with other species and how they adapt in landscapes altered by humans. This manuscript is one of two journal articles and four natural history notes that have stemmed from the Conservancy’s extensive research on cane toads.

2022-2023 Compass Report 21

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Sea turtle nesting remained strong despite hurricane challenges n eptember , outhwest lorida was devastated by urricane an. The beaches were littered with debris that created obstacles for female turtles emerging from the ulf to nest this summer. This hurricane also attened most of the dune habitat where turtles o en lay their eggs. Nonetheless, loggerhead and green sea turtles began crawling ashore to ﬁnd ust the right spot to bury their eggs.

espite di culties, the team continued, ﬁrst determining if a turtle indeed nested or whether she abandoned the attempt as a false crawl a non nesting emergence on the beach . hen nests were found, the team located the egg chamber by gently digging into the sand. The eggs were then covered bac up with sand and a cage placed over the nest to protect it from hungry predators such as raccoons, coyotes and hogs.

This year, a new challenge emerged. eewaydin sland was split into two north and south regions by storm surge from urricane an that reopened an old pass that had not been open in decades. This made turtle season logistically di cult as Conservancy science sta and interns could no longer traverse the entire island, but rather had to patrol two islands.

ided by a new digital dashboard system that allows the team to trac nests and present a summary of data in real time, the cience sta and interns documented more than nests and , hatchlings this season. ndeterred by beach conditions following urricane an, some nest predation mainly by coyotes , and topped o by urricane dalia which washed out some nests, these numbers re ect a successful and busy sea turtle nesting season on eewaydin sland.

22 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

conservancy.org/science

Mangrove Overview 2023 This year we performed our annual mangrove forest health surveys within Clam Bay and oodland ruit arm Cree mangrove systems. The results this year were particularly poignant, since it was performed months post urricane an. The Clam Bay mangrove system absorbed an foot tidal surge that deposited acres of sand into the mangrove forest and caused mangrove mortality. This was not unexpected as these mangroves form our ﬁrst line of defense during hurricanes, protecting the interior developed areas from the brunt of the storm. The surge would have been much higher and more intense if these mangroves were not in place. The Clam Bay mangrove system su ered more damage than the more southern ruit arm Cree system as the hurricane intensity and tidal surge was much more intense at Clam Bay. Overall, this year the mangroves were not as robust or as healthy as in past years, but some areas were showing early signs of resilience. Next year s health chec will hopefully reveal more signs of recovery.

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E N V I R O N M E N TA L POLICY & ADVOCACY

A win for conservation Rivergrass settlement reduces growth in Eastern Collier County The Conservancy of Southwest Florida reached a settlement with Collier Enterprises and the Collier County Board of Commissioners regarding regarding Rivergrass Village, the first approved village for the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) in eastern Collier County. Our challenge against Rivergrass has been the Conservancy’s largest legal battle in our 60-year history. Since the creation and inception of the RLSA, over 20 years ago, the Conservancy has understood that rural eastern Collier County is an area targeted for substantial growth. Without proper planning, growth will drastically transform the RLSA’s current landscape of diverse connected ecosystems and important agricultural lands, to sprawling towns and villages in inappropriate locations. For over two decades, the Conservancy has advocated for the avoidance of important habitat areas, wetlands, and wildlife corridors in future plans for development and road projects within the RLSA. Furthermore, the Conservancy has strongly advocated for sustainable development plans, to protect taxpayers, limit traffic and ensure a better quality of life for current and future generations. Therefore, we entered settlement discussions with Collier Enterprises focused on negotiating an agreement that would result in benefits that span the entire RLSA. We are pleased to share with you that we succeeded in securing such positive settlement terms. 24 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Scan here to learn more. Aerial view of proposed Rivergrass development in Eastern Collier County.

conservancy.org/policy

Damage of seismic proportions The Conservancy and our partners remain steadfast in documenting the damage due to seismic exploration caused by Burnett Oil Company in Big Cypress National Preserve, providing detailed technical reports to the preserve management and permitting agencies, and demanding that Burnett be held fully accountable for the impacts of their activities. The good news is that there is a proposal for the privately held subsurface mineral rights to be publicly acquired to create a uniﬁed preserve, which would help protect our cherished public lands from future new drilling.

2022-2023 Compass Report 25

E N V I R O N M E N TA L POLICY & ADVOCACY

Conservancy stands against proposed Bellmar development The Conservancy’s Policy & Advocacy Department has spent the past 10+ years opposing projects that would impact habitat for the endangered Florida panther, including the controversial Bellmar development in eastern Collier County. Located precariously close to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Bellmar and other similar developments threaten the dwindling habitat of the panther and other native species. Bellmar would also cause increased traﬃc and deadly vehicle strikes. With a vision of safeguarding the region’s natural ecosystems, our team places a heavy emphasis on the importance of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and smart growth principles. The Conservancy remains resolute in championing the protection of wetlands, public lands, and wildlife habitats.

26 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

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Storm resilience n une , the rmy Corps of ngineers Corps provided an array of alternatives for a storm mitigation plan in Collier County, based on the discussions in the sta eholder charrettes that too place in pril. The Conservancy was very pleased to see that the massive surge barrier at iggins Pass was screened out of the study and that the Corps stated they are committed to prioriti ing nature based solutions.

Than s to these e orts, subsequent meetings saw the removal of other proposed gates and walls from the study. owever, the study is far from over.

n the lead up to these discussions, the Conservancy s cience and Policy teams collaborated in proactive steps to engage and inform the public. ecogni ing the potential implications of the massive surge barriers, the Conservancy disseminated crucial updates and highlighted ways the public could participate in vital meetings and ensured that residents were well equipped to voice their concerns.

The Corps is in the process of modeling and evaluating proposed measures, so it is still too early to tell which measures will move forward to the Tentatively elected Plan T P , to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in .

The Conservancy is still concerned that environmentally destructive measures having serious consequences on our coastal environment and quality of life could later be included in the study as potential solutions.

2022-2023 Compass Report 27

o un e e r

s an extraordinary volunteer for wildlife conservation in outhwest lorida, Tim Thompson has been one of our trusted Critter Couriers since . Thompson has helped with renesting birds, rescuing wildlife no matter the tre and releasing animals bac to the wild. side from his help in the von rx ildlife ospital, he s been a spo esperson on behalf of our mission and beyond.

ead ers

nvironmental policy manager mber Croo s graduated in pril from eadership Collier Class of . Over annual sessions, participants explored local government, education, economic development, agriculture, arts and more. eadership Collier oundation s mission is to activate the potential of leaders to build a stronger Collier County.

un y

By setting up a lemonade stand in her neighborhood, young mery and her family were able to raise over , to help the in ured, sic and orphaned animals in our care at our von rx ildlife ospital.

The Conservancy’s President and CEO Rob Moher was featured in Gulfshore Life’s 2022 Men and Women of the Year, celebrated for his work in shaping the community through leadership and advocacy. Moher has been a part of the Conservancy for 25 years.

28 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

ag e

ard

nner

The Conservancy bestowed its highest honor, the agle ward, to ue alton for her immense contributions to our environmental education, community and fundraising engagement e orts. The award was presented at the Conservancy s nnual eeting for members on anuary ,

The ﬁrst outhwest lorida Climate Community ummit was held on anuary , at rthrex. espite urricane an postponing the original date, the core partnerships saw the importance of this ummit and pushed to have it rescheduled early the next year. The outhwest lorida Climate Community nitiative, a partnership between C , Conservancy of outhwest lorida, Collier Community oundation, Collaboratory, C , The News Press Naples aily News annett, and rowing Climate olutions, was ﬁrst established to elevate the public discourse on climate challenges. The ummit was a culmination of the nitiative s wor , powered by the support of ert Corporation, based on science based climate and resilience research. The sold out event was attended by over individuals, including local government o cials, civic and N O organi ations, regional residents and leaders in business, education, health and faith sectors. Throughout the one day event, attendees came to understand our climate challenges and opportunities, addressed the impacts of urricane an and how to rebuild wiser, and prioriti ed the actions for our community to protect paradise moving forward. s a restorer sponsor, the Conservancy and other sponsors banded together a er the summit to create an extensive and informative report regarding the

outcomes of the event. There is no straigh orward formula for advancing climate resilience ob ectives as localities priorities, budgets, and political contexts vary widely within our region. et, the goal of the summit was to establish a direction for this region and it was an impetus for starting the ourney. The ummit outcomes report clariﬁes the challenges we face, demonstrates the value of participatory planning, and inspires our community to ta e collective action.

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a e co

un y su

2022-2023 Compass Report 29

Magic Under the Mangroves

The th annual agic nder the angroves gala held arch raised more than . million net for programs to protect the water, land, wildlife and future of outhwest lorida. oing bac to the original theme of agic nder the angroves, guests were reminded of the importance of mangrove forests to the ecosystems of outhwest lorida. n the a ermath of urricane an, it has been a di cult year for many of our supporters, but nowing of the importance of the wor we do in protecting nature, they stepped up in a big way, said ob oher, Conservancy president and C O. e all recogni e that if we protect nature, nature will protect us. On behalf of our sta , volunteers, and board, m grateful for the outpouring of support during agic.

30 Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Toni and Charlie ueller chaired the event and led a team of volunteer committee members and sta . agic nder the angroves has raised more than million since its inception in . Presented by

upporting ponsor

Community ponsor

RedSnook Tournament The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s 2022 RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament netted more than $250,000 to benefit the Conservancy’s Fight for Clean Water. Due to impacts from Hurricane Ian, the event was postponed from October to December. In addition, the kickoff party also included a special dedicated fundraiser for Hurricane Ian relief. In less than 10 minutes, more than $45,000 was raised for the YMCA of Marco Island to support residents and businesses on Isles of Capri as they recovered from Hurricane Ian. The Collier Community Foundation matched with $25,000, raising a grand total of around $70,000. In the 17 years the Conservancy has put on this event, more than $2 million has been raised to support water policy efforts. The tournament Chair was Jon Kukk, assisted by former Chair Wayne Meland and devoted committee members.