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SCCF Attends 40th Everglades Coalition Conference

On Jan. 30-Feb. 1, SCCF attended the 40th annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Miami at the Miccosukee Casino & Resort. The conference, hosted by the Everglades Coalition, provides a forum and gathering space for the many stakeholders working to restore America’s Everglades — including conservation groups, elected officials, business leaders, scientists, students, and local, state, tribal and federal partners.
In attendance were SCCF CEO James Evans, Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis, Policy Associate Allie Pecenka, Communications & Marketing Manager Denise Blough, and Trustee Bob Brooks.
“The annual Everglades Coalition Conference is the largest gathering of the ‘who’s who’ of Everglades restoration. It brings federal, state, tribal, and local leaders together with NGOs and other organizations to rally behind the restoration of America’s Everglades,” Evans said. “We are so proud to be a part of the Everglades community. Our participation is essential to ensure our success in restoring the River of Grass and our coastal estuaries.”
The conference’s theme, “Reflections on Progress and Opportunities,” was weaved throughout 10 panel discussions about topics such as the power of community, the clean water economy, indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in the Everglades, and how to strengthen wildlife and water corridors across the greater Everglades ecosystem.
This year was the first Everglades Coalition Conference to be held on tribal lands, and the 2025 Public Service Award was given to Chairman Talbert Cypress of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.
“This conference is not just the best opportunity to learn about what our partner organizations are doing to further the largest ecological restoration effort in the world, it’s also an important opportunity to forge new relationships and hear from voices that we may not interact with in our day-to-day,” DePaolis said. “It was an honor to be hosted by the Miccosukee Tribe on their lands, and I am excited to continue to learn from their wealth of knowledge of the system.”
DePaolis spoke on the panel “Beyond the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP): What Should the Next 40 Years of Everglades Restoration Look Like?”, moderated by environmental lawyer and advocate Richard Grosso. Other panelists included:
- Nicholas Aumen, Regional Science Advisor, South Florida, U.S. Geological Survey
- Kevin Cunniff, Chief Sustainability Officer, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
- Jaclyn Lopez, Director of the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, Stetson University College of Law
- Dr. Thomas Van Lent, Senior Scientist, Friends of the Everglades
The group discussed the long-term survival of the Everglades in the face of climate change, development pressure, and ongoing water quality challenges. They also considered how best to sustain and ensure the success of CERP projects, as well as what priorities would be most urgent once all projects are completed.
Other Sanibel and Captiva leaders and organizations were represented at the 40th annual EVCO Conference, including Mayor Richard Johnson and Vice Mayor Mike Miller, President & CEO of the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce John Lai, and Executive Director of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Anne-Marie Wildman.
“Since Lee County is situated on the fringe of the greater Everglades ecosystem, it’s important for us to be able to tell our story to other stakeholders,” DePaolis said.
For Trustee Bob Brooks, SCCF attending this year’s conference was meaningful “because it allows us to be active advocates in these discussions while also networking with key decision makers and other organizations,” he said. “Our presence ensures that Southwest Florida’s water quality and environmental challenges are heard, helping to strengthen partnerships and push for a healthier Everglades and a better future for the region.”
Added Policy Associate Allie Pecenka: “The Everglades Coalition Conference is a meeting of minds and diverse perspectives with one shared goal: the protection and restoration of the greater Everglades ecosystem. Effective collaboration on a project so large, encompassing such environmentally and culturally important lands requires strong partnerships and steadfast commitment. We thank the Miccosukee Tribe for graciously hosting us on their lands and the Everglades Coalition for creating the space for these essential collaborations to take shape.”