2018 Florida Springs Restoration Summit to Feature Springs Regional Panels and Keynote Addresses by Dinah Voyles Pulver and Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch
OCALA, FL – The Florida Springs Council (FSC), with support from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Jelks Family Foundation, is hosting the Florida Springs Restoration Summit from November 1st – 4th at the College of Central Florida to report on the status of springs health in Florida and to develop a roadmap for springs restoration and protection.
The Summit will consist of a series of panel discussions arranged into seven major springs regions. Panelists will address the current knowledge about springs science and management, as well as the tools and activities needed for meaningful springs restoration and long-term protection. Conservationist Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and environmental journalist Dinah Voyles Pulver will provide keynote addresses on Friday and Saturday.
“The Florida Springs Restoration Summit is the only conference in the state that focuses on identifying the next steps needed to protect our springs,” says FSC President Dan Hilliard. “Anyone who has an interest in the future of our springs should make attending this conference a priority.”
A poster session will be held on Friday evening and will offer the opportunity for students, young professionals, and nonprofit organizations to showcase new ideas and examples of tools and activities being implemented or proposed throughout the state to improve the health of our springs. The 2018 Florida Springs Conservation Plan, a result of the 2016 Summit, will also be released during the conference and provided to all participants.
The desired outcome for the 2018 Summit is a highly-informed audience of decision makers, scientists, advocates, and laypersons who can work together to recognize the threats to Florida’s springs and follow through on implementing meaningful springs restoration and protection actions.
When asked why an event like this is important, 2016 Summit attendee Kathleen Lamorte says it best: “We need to save these valuable resources; take care of them so that other families can have the same kind of history that we had visiting them”.
To purchase tickets or learn more about the Florida Springs Restoration Summit, visit https://www.springsrestorationsummit.org/.
For questions, contact Brenda Wells at floridaspringscouncil@gmail.com.
