Blog By Claudia Farren

The Florida Wildlife Federation is pleased to bring the “Atlas of Florida’s Natural Heritage—Biodiversity, Landscapes, Stewardship, and Opportunities” to the Nature Store. This is an outstanding publication that all of our members will enjoy.

Did you know there are 4,000 species of plants in Florida and only Texas and California rank with Florida in terms of plant species? Did you know that young male panthers are known to move long distances in search of new territories and mates as documented by panther #130, a young male panther whose positions were recorded over a 3-year period? Or, did you know that the Apalachicola River and its surrounding natural habitats are one of the top rare species hotspots in the United States?

The new “Atlas of Florida’s Natural Heritage” is a book that shows the reader the uniqueness of Florida’s natural areas. The high-quality, full-color Atlas is sure to become a standard reference for anyone involved in the conservation, management, study, or enjoyment of Florida’s rich natural resources. With its colorful maps, graphics and photographs, the authors want the Atlas to inspire, educate, and raise awareness of and interest in biodiversity and conservation issues. Florida’s biodiversity is a primary reason why so many people love to live here and why so many tourists visit our state.

The Atlas is divided into three primary sections:

Elements of Biodiversity characterize the diversity and distribution of communities and species across the state.

Notable Natural Areas shifts the emphasis to place, and ties together the individual elements of natural heritage to highlight outstanding natural places in Florida. Designed to look like a researcher’s field notebook, maps for each of these notable regions in Florida feature a beautiful hand-drawn style, and are complimented with stunning photos and other sketches of species found there.

Biodiversity Conservation outlines major challenges threatening Florida’s natural resources, some notable efforts to prioritize places for conservation, and Florida’s landmark conservation strategy—the acquisition and management of conservation lands.

Hopefully, the Atlas of Florida’s Natural Heritage will increase awareness of the resources we take for granted, and the challenges we face in preserving them.

“The Atlas is an up-to-date, well-researched and richly illustrated compendium of Florida’s natural diversity and the unparalleled conservation legacy of Florida citizens. An excellent reference for anyone interested in Florida’s natural environment and conservation issues.”

Manley Fuller,
President, Florida Wildlife Federation

We think this atlas will be a valuable reference for anyone involved in or interested in conservation in Florida.” 

Jonathan Oetting
Conservation Planner, Florida Natural Areas Inventory

 Watch a short segment on the book recorded for WFSU’s Dimensions, a Tallahassee local public television show: http://www.wfsu.org/dimensions/admin/uploads/videos/1316709707.php