Progress is visible everywhere you look. Sea turtle sanctuaries reopen, Everglades projects near completion and nonprofits expand to meet the moment. The season arrives with a sense of joyful optimism. Across the region, progress feels personal and tangible.
CONSERVATION WINS, making strides to preserve Southwest Florida.
Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher launched Friends of Big Cypress National Preserve this summer to protect the landscapes that define his black-and-white works. The nonprofit supports fundraising and education for one of America’s first national preserves, where a detention center opened this year on fragile terrain.
The Picayune Strand Restoration Project is on track to finish in December, capping 18 years of work to restore the natural flow of water across 55,000 acres in unincorporated Collier County. The first project to begin construction under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, it now stands as a cornerstone of broader wetland restoration.
In Charlotte County, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Babcock Ranch received more than $20 million this summer to create a sustainability and resiliency institute. The partnership will create student engagement opportunities and degree programs, with key contributions from FGCU’s The Water School, Lutgert College of Business and Dendritic AI, establishing a collaborative hub to foster sustainable development through innovative research. —Zahra Kahn
Courtesy Clyde Butcher
swfl season preview clyde butcher friends of big cypress
Amid encroachment on protected Everglades lands this year, Clyde Butcher launched Friends of Big Cypress to protect the preserve.
TALKING POINTS, Naples holds its first TEDx.
On March 21, Southwest Florida will host the first TEDxNaples at Sugden Community Theatre. Run by TEDxBeaconStreet veteran Jeff Saviano, the conference revolves around the theme of ‘Lifelong Learning.’ Fourteen speakers with South Florida roots are confirmed for the lineup, including Pulitzer Prize-nominated columnist and Miami Herald pioneer Bea Hines and Naples-based mental performance coach Shawn French, host of the top-ranked podcast The Determined Society. —Z.K.
MORE GOOD NEWS, nonprofits reach new heights.
STARability breaks ground this fall on a renovation of a 42,000-square-foot building on five acres in Naples. The modern, inclusive program hub will include newly configured classrooms, dedicated administrative spaces and a light-filled portico, designed to foster a safe, uplifting environment for participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Construction is also underway at The Heights Foundation CareerTech Institute in South Fort Myers. The $42 million technical training center will serve more than 500 Lee County students annually, offering industry-recognized certifications for sustainable, high-wage careers.
This month, The Boys & Girls Club of Lee County celebrates 50 years with a newly reopened flagship in Fort Myers, with spaces dedicated to sports, wellness, creativity and culinary exploration.
In Naples, David Lawrence Centers is making significant progress on its $160 million Hope for Collier: Building Stronger Minds Together Initiative. The Diermeier Access & Integrated Care Center should be operational by mid-2026, offering walk-in behavioral health care. Construction is also underway on the new Collier County Behavioral Health Center, which will include 24/7 emergency mental health screenings, crisis stabilization and comprehensive care. —Z.K.
SAFE HARBOR, CROW's revitalized turtle sanctuary reopens.
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) unveils its rebuilt sea turtle complex this season, three years after Hurricane Ian destroyed the previous facility. As the only licensed sea turtle sanctuary between Sarasota and the Florida Keys, the Sanibel Island center plays a vital role in wildlife conservation and research. Designed to meet updated hurricane codes, the nearly 3,000-square-foot facility features larger, subdivided tanks to provide care to adult turtles; a separate tank for hatchlings; and upgraded life support and hoist systems. Newly installed cameras allow the veterinary team to monitor animals and stream live to the public so turtle lovers can follow their recoveries. With construction slated for completion in early 2026, the multimillion- dollar project marks a new chapter for local wildlife conservation. —Addison Pezoldt
Courtesy Priority Marketing
swfl season preview crow sea turtle complex
CROW’s revitalized turtle sanctuary reopens on Sanibel three years after Hurricane Ian.