James Evans

James oversees operations and is responsible for carrying out SCCF’s mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. He has more than 24 years of experience working in south Florida ecosystems with expertise in water quality, environmental policy, marine biology, estuarine ecology, and environmental restoration.

James holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and M.S. in Environmental Science from Florida Gulf Coast University.  His graduate research investigated the influence of freshwater inflow on the distribution, abundance and trophic relationships of fish and invertebrates in Estero Bay.

James served as SCCF’s Environmental Policy Director before becoming CEO in January 2022. His career includes more than 20 years of service with the City of Sanibel where he spent 7 years as Director of Natural Resources overseeing land conservation, ecosystem restoration, habitat management, environmental planning/code enforcement, water quality and water policy efforts.

James has served on numerous committees and boards, including Chair of the Lee County Coastal Advisory Council and the Southwest Florida Watershed Council, Co-Chair of the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) Management Committee, and member of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Science Coordination Group, the C-43 West basin Reservoir Water Quality Treatment Component Feasibility Study Working Group, and the Lee County Hurricane Ian Recovery Task Force Natural Resources Branch.