Dover, Kohl & Partners is proud to share news about our recent partnership with 1000 Friends of Florida and The University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning to create the new report Community Visioning & Landscape Conservation Planning, a resource for planning smarter growth and protecting Florida’s natural landscapes. The report emphasizes the crucial role Florida’s communities play in shaping their future by aligning statewide data with public engagement. As Florida faces mounting population pressures, the guide offers a roadmap for how communities can better understand statewide landscape priorities, proactively plan for conservation lands, and support informed local policymaking. Written for a broad audience, the report is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in growing responsibly while safeguarding the state’s most vital ecological resources.
From datasets and conservation-based tools to real-world examples, the report is filled with strategies that help communities respond to the challenges of rapid growth and disappearing natural lands. It features initiatives both large and small, with detailed case studies including Lake Wales Envisioned, the Nassau County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, the North Okaloosa County Planning Study, and the Wimauma Community Plan and Downtown Revitalization Action Plan. Each demonstrates how a community-led vision, backed by robust public engagement and science-based planning, can support and encourage meaningful policy change and environmental protection.
Highlights of the report include:
The importance of science-based planning in identifying priority conservation areas
Tools and resources like the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN) and Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project (CLIP)
Strategies for inclusive and effective community engagement
Guidance on how to integrate vision plans into local comprehensive planning efforts
A summary of leading nonprofit and advocacy groups supporting conservation throughout Florida
This report and the upcoming webinar hosted by 1000 Friends of Florida on September 11th are part of a broader effort to elevate the role of community engagement and long-term planning in protecting Florida’s open lands, natural habitats, and community character. Whether you're a planner, elected official, advocate, or engaged citizen, this is a resource you won’t want to miss.
Upcoming Webinar: September 11, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET
Join members from 1000 Friends of Florida, the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, Dover, Kohl & Partners, Nassau County, and Perez Planning + Design for a special webinar introducing the report and discussing its findings, tools, cases, and ways local governments and advocates can put it to use.
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