The ground-breaking program limits the developmental footprint and has preserved 17,000 acres for wildlife protection in Southwest Florida. By preserving natural habitat, protecting land for agriculture, and promoting sustainable growth, this innovative program promotes economic diversification and smart growth in rural areas.
This collaborative program protects the panther habitat in Eastern Collier County. Barron Collier Companies, along with the support of leading conservation organizations and small and large farmers and ranchers in Eastern Collier County, is committed to setting the endangered Florida panther on a path to recovery. The establishment of the Paul J. Marinelli Panther Protection Fund provides a source of private funds to make significant conservation efforts for decades to come.
Established in 1974, on land conveyed by the Collier family, this was the nation’s first national preserve. Big Cypress protects 729,000 acres of wetlands that flow clean water across the Greater Everglades ecosystem, into Everglades National Park, and into the vital estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast.
The Collier Seminole State Park was created on land originally owned by Barron Gift Collier and covers what is historically known as Royal Palm Hammock. The park was donated by the Collier family to the county in 1947 as a memorial for the Seminole Indian Wars. The park also extends down to the Ten Thousand Islands and includes mangrove river estuaries and salt marsh preserves.
A collaborative effort on behalf of leading conservation organizations and private landowners, the Plan permanently preserves approximately 150,000 acres in Eastern Collier County, providing valuable habitat for the endangered Florida Panther and 18 other threatened species.
