News Releases

FWC to hold meetings on coastal conservation

News Release

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Media contact: Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative will hold a forum in Cocoa on Tuesday, Sept. 7.  The Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative (CWCI) is a new comprehensive strategy for how the FWC approaches conservation in the coastal areas of Florida.

Two sessions will be held; each is open to the public. Government agency representatives from Volusia, Brevard and Indian River counties are invited to attend the forum session from 9 a.m. to noon. At the evening session, beginning at 6 p.m., stakeholders, nongovernmental organizations and the public are invited to learn more about the CWCI and its vision. FWC staff will outline the basic concepts behind the Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative and then invite attendees to discuss the pressing coastal conservation issues in their area and identify gaps in research, education, management and regulation that are standing in the way of solving those issues.

"The CWCI's vision is to ensure the long-term conservation of native wildlife in coastal ecosystems throughout Florida in balance with human activities," said Laura DiGruttolo, CWCI coordinator. "We will address the immediate coastal wildlife conservation issues, while still recognizing the importance of the coast to Florida's economy and communities.

Both forum sessions will be held at the Brevard County IFAS Extension Service, 3695 Lake Dr., Cocoa.

For more information on CWCI, call Laura DiGruttolo at 386-758-0525.