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EcoTourism in Florida
Ten years ago, as part of a larger conservation effort, the St. John's River Water Management District acquired an old 4000-acre farm on the Ocklawaha River, a tributary of the St. John's River in northern Florida, and later began efforts to restore its extensive marshlands. Soon this property, a biodiversity hotspot in its region, will commence a new incarnation as a conservation lodge thanks to an unusual collaboration between the water management district, the Florida Audubon Society, and the Florida Conservation Lodge Foundation, a creation of the Pew Charitable Trusts.
In addition to the restoration program, the water management district was keen to open the farm, which attracts large numbers of birds of many different species, for public and educational use. Florida Audubon was the logical partner to develop an education program. Concurrently, the Pew-supported Florida Conservation Lodge Foundation launched a project to transform the site into an eco-resort, using environmentally advanced methods in renovating existing buildings on the site and constructing new ones.
The 24-bedroom Florida Audubon/Conservation Lodge Refuge is expected to open for public use about March 1. Tel. (352) 288-2233. |
