The Florida Wildlife Federation and many other statewide non-profit conservation organizations have joined together to support the national Teaming with Wildlife (TWW) effort. Essentially, TWW is a federal program that provides money to state wildlife agencies, in our case, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This agency uses the money to issue grants for a myriad of conservation projects. The federal government has provided approximately $15.5 million to Florida since 2001, which money has been matched with at least $5.4 million in state and other matching funds.
The priorities of the Florida TWW Coalition include perpetual conservation of existing public lands, connection of public lands by corridors, management of public and private lands to facilitate an abundance of native plant and animal species, suppression of exotic species, water quality monitoring and enhancement, pollution abatement and the preservation of rare species.
Florida continues to face a major influx of new residents that results in the alteration of natural places into residences and commercial structures. Florida is also home to more rare species than the vast majority of other states. With the continued increase in human population, efforts to save what we now have shall require a concerted and continuous effort. The Teaming with Wildlife Coalition is committed to keeping the future bright for the Florida panther, the manatee, our precious freshwater springs and the quality of life of all Floridians.