Florida Turtle Conservation Trust Launches New Website (www.ftct.org)
The Florida Turtle Conservation Trust (FTCT) was formed in 1999 by a group of Florida biologists and conservationists concerned with the conservation outlook for Florida turtles. Our purpose is to promote the conservation of all Florida turtle species and the preservation of intact, free-ranging populations and their associated ecosystems throughout the state of Florida. The FTCT is committed to and supports education, conservation, research, and management efforts with the above goals in mind.
Florida is home to over 8% of the world's known turtle species and is a significant area for both turtle diversity and habitat. Twenty-five of the 54 turtle species found in the United States also occur in Florida. They are represented in upland communities, such as scrub and sandhill, in rivers, lakes, swamps, and even coastal habitats, such as salt marsh, mangrove communities and marine systems. Certainly, habitat diversity and species richness makes Florida a chelonian hotspot.
The FTCT focuses its efforts on the conservation of non-marine species. This work is accomplished independently or in partnership with agencies and other non-governmental organizations. To date, the FTCT has:
- organized and co-sponsored a symposium on the status and conservation of Florida turtles;
- co-sponsored a national workshop on the ecology, status and conservation of diamondback terrapins;
- initiated the development of both a national and Florida Diamondback Terrapin Working Group;
- partnered with the Gopher Tortoise Council on a project that distributed an educational book to nearly 3,000 elementary school libraries throughout the range of the gopher tortoise;
- partnered with the Gopher Tortoise Council on a project that distributed an educational slide/PowerPoint presentation and supplemental resource notebook to educators throughout the range of the gopher tortoise;
- co-developed and funded the Pinellas County School District's Florida turtle track pack;
- organized Florida turtle educational exhibits at nature festivals and environmental events;
- and assisted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the development of a diamondback terrapin educational poster and exhibit.
Members of the FTCT include biologists, land managers, agency representatives, environmental consultants, educators, conservationists, and concerned citizens. In addition to supporting conservation work, members receive discounts on meeting registration fees and opportunities to attend organized field trips. For more information please visit www.ftct.org.