The core mission of the Division of Habitat and
Species Conservation is to ensure healthy populations of all native
species and their habitats on a statewide basis. The division
integrates scientific data with applied habitat management for the
purpose of maintaining stable or increasing populations of fish and
wildlife. Integration efforts focus on the ecosystem
or landscape scale to provide the greatest benefits to the widest
possible array of fish and wildlife species. Accomplishing
this mission requires extensive collaboration and partnering with
local, state and federal agencies to maintain diverse and healthy
fish and wildlife populations for the benefit of all Floridians and
visitors. Direct benefits include ecological, economic, aesthetic,
scientific and recreational benefits. This program provides:
- aquatic habitat management for marine, estuarine and freshwater
systems;
- habitat management for terrestrial systems including public
lands management;
- land acquisition;
- scientific support and assistance for habitat-related issues to
private and public sector landowners and local, state and federal
governments;
- species management and recovery plan development and
implementation;
- exotic species coordination focused on prevention and control
programs;
- manatee, Florida black bear, Florida panther and sea turtle
population recovery;
- invasive plant management on public lakes, rivers and
conservation lands.
Eric Sutton is the director of the Divison of
Habitat & Species Conservation
Persons with Disabilities