FWC May 17 workshop in Lee County encourages gopher tortoise conservation

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding regional workshops to present information on opportunities for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises and other state-listed species in Florida.

The goal of these workshops is to encourage participation in gopher tortoise conservation at the local level by providing information that could assist participants with establishing local gopher tortoise protection policies. Additionally, the FWC will discuss how local policies could assist in conserving other state-listed species and will provide information on financial incentives available to local governments for habitat management.

A workshop hosted by Lee County is scheduled for May 17 at the Lee County Administration Building East. Representatives from local governments in nearby counties are encouraged to attend.

Lee County
Wednesday, May 17
9 a.m. – noon
Lee County Administration Building East
2201 Second St Room 118
Fort Myers, FL 33901

            “The purpose of this regional workshop is to encourage local governments to be our partners in conservation for gopher tortoises, a threatened species whose burrows provide shelter to hundreds of other native species, and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need,” said Amanda Mills, local government coordinator for the FWC’s Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section.

The workshop is free, but registration is required as space is limited. Register for the workshop at EventBrite.com, by typing “gopher tortoise” in the “Looking for” search.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise to access the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan.