Goal II: Focus Area 2
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Freshwater and Terrestrial Natural Resources and Ecosystems
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Situation Statement
Natural resources (water, flora, and fauna) contribute significantly to the Florida economy and are important components of the quality of life for many residents and tourists. At least half of the respondents to a 1999 survey indicated that prevention of water pollution (72%), protecting the marine environment (64%), and conservation of wildlife habitat and endangered species (50%) were "high priority" educational program needs for their communities. And yet, many issues threaten these valuable assets. Florida ranks third among states in the number of plants and animals federally listed as being in danger of becoming extinct, and half of all Florida's non-marine vertebrates are declining in number.
Problems caused by invasive, non-native species in Florida also rank as some of the most severe in the country and threaten wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems. Florida is also one of the most rapidly growing states in the country and expanding agriculture and urbanization contribute unique challenges to natural resource conservation and ecosystem function.
Rationale
The objectives of UF/IFAS Extension activities and programs are intended to promote the continued existence, function, and sustainable use of Florida's natural resources for the benefit of Florida both today and in the future. These objectives are met by providing science-based information to persons that:
- develop policies that affect natural resources in Florida,
- implement education, management, conservation, and restoration actions that influence natural resources and ecosystems in Florida, and
- consume, enjoy, or otherwise benefit from the existence of natural resources and functional ecosystems in Florida.
Target Audiences/Primary Audiences
- Recreational fishing sector
- Fishing tournament organizers
- Adult participants in fishing tournaments
- Youth participants in fishing tournaments
- Charter boat operators
- Fishing guides
- Bait and tackle shop retailers
- Fishing clubs
- Recreational fishers
- Boating sector
- Navigational districts
- Port authorities
- Marina operators
- Boatyard operators
- Eco-tourism providers
- Boat and boat supply retailers
- Boating groups
- Recreational boaters
- Recreational hunting sector
- Hunting guides
- Hunting shop operators
- Hunting clubs
- Land owners managing for hunting
- Recreational hunters
- Non-consumptive recreation sector
- Hiking clubs
- Hikers
- Wildlife and birdwatching groups
- Wildlife and bird observers
- Dive clubs
- Divers
- Land owners, users and developers
- Rural, suburban and urban single family owners
- Suburban and urban multi-family owners
- Rural, suburban and urban renters
- Agricultural producers
- Rural ranchette owners
- Lakeshore residents
- Private pond owners
- Homeowner associations
- Developers
- Landscape designers and contractors
- Environmental consultants
- Natural resource policy makers
- Florida Bar Association
- Municipal planners
- County planners
- Regional planners within the state
- State planners
- Municipal elected and appointed officials
- County elected and appointed officials
- State elected and appointed officials
- Federal elected and appointed officials
- Natural resource managers and regulators
- Municipal managers
- County managers
- Regional managers within the state
- State managers
- Multi-state regional managers
- Place-based management partnerships
- Federal managers
- International managers
- Private property managers
- Opinion leaders
- Non-governmental organizations
- Master Gardeners
- Environmental groups
- Wildlife and bird observing groups
- Conservation groups
- Other community groups
- Educators and trainers
- K-5 teachers
- 6-8 teachers
- 9-12 teachers
- College faculty and other researchers
- 4-H leaders
- Extension faculty
- Interpreters
- Other non-formal educators
- Youth
- K-5 students
- 6-8 students
- 9-12 students
- College students
- 4-H participants
- Other youth groups
- Other segments of the public
- Underrepresented groups
- Interested public
- Volunteers for cleanups
- Volunteer monitors
- Volunteer restorers
- Other volunteers
- Seasonal residents and tourists
Topics to be Covered/Subjects to be Taught
- Understanding terrestrial and freshwater systems
- Ecology of terrestrial systems
- Ecology of freshwater systems
- Ecology and biology of threatened and endangered species
- Importance of water quantity and quality
- Importance of habitat quantity and quality
- Importance of invasive species
- Innovative science to study terrestrial and freshwater systems
- Ecology and biology of harvested species
- Understanding and improving human interactions with terrestrial and
freshwater systems
- Value of terrestrial systems
- Value of freshwater systems
- History, development, implementation and impact of policies and regulations for threatened and endangered species
- History, development, implementation and impact of policies and regulations for water quantity and quality
- History, development, implementation and impact of policies and regulations for habitat quantity and quality
- History, development, implementation and impact of policies and regulations for invasive species
- History, development, implementation and impact of other policies and regulations
- History, development, implementation and impact of policies and regulations for harvested species
- Innovative science to study human interactions with terrestrial and freshwater systems
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices
- Other environmentally and economically friendly management practices
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for recreational fishing
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for boating and marine industries
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for land use and ownership
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for recreational hunting
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for non-consumptive uses
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for threatened and endangered species
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for invasive species
- Environmentally and economically friendly management practices for individuals
- Restoring terrestrial and freshwater systems to an agreed state
- Enhancing terrestrial and freshwater systems to an agreed state
- Disaster preparedness
- Understanding and improving terrestrial and freshwater watershed links
- Structure and function of watersheds
- Watershed approach to management
- Promoting and supporting volunteer activities
- LAKEWATCH monitoring and management
- Cleanups
- Restoration
- Recycling
- Marketing UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant
- Marketing plans
- Marketing activities
Outcomes
- Number of contact hours per participant in educational or training sessions
- Number of contact hours per volunteer
- Number of datapoints collected by volunteers
- Number of e-mail contacts from clientele
- Number of educational materials distributed
- Number of educational or training sessions
- Number of mail or fax contacts from clientele
- Number of newsletters distributed
- Number of office visits by clientele
- Number of participants in educational or training sessions
- Number of promotional materials distributed
- Number of telephone contacts from clientele
- Number of trainees certified
- Number of underserved or minority participants
- Number of uses of the mass media
- Number of visits to clientele
- Number of volunteer hours contributed
- Number of volunteer trainings
- Number of volunteers recruited
- Number of volunteers trained
- Number of web page hits
- Overall satisfaction with service - survey (1 to 5 ranking)
- Percentage increase in awareness or understanding - pre & post tests
- Percentage of participants indicating an increase in awareness or understanding - survey
- Potential number of mass media contacts
Impacts
- Dollars saved - estimate
- Dollars saved - survey
- Number of management agencies using volunteer data
- Number of other organizations using UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant materials, methods or other products
- Number of relevant management changes
- Number of relevant policy changes
- Number of relevant regulatory changes
- Percent of increased awareness or understanding retained - follow-up survey
- Percent of increased awareness or understanding retained - follow-up test
- Percentage increase in calls for and use of UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant products or services
- Percentage of knowledgeable individuals indicating a decrease in natural resource impacts - survey
- Percentage of knowledgeable individuals indicating a decrease in user conflicts - survey
- Percentage of knowledgeable individuals indicating an increase or improvement in public participation - survey
- Percentage of participants implementing recommended behavioral change - survey
- Percentage of targeted natural resources protected, restored or enhanced - survey
- Back to Goal II
If the information on this page is out-of-date, misspelled, or otherwise incorrect, please contact Ryan Mills.
