The objective of this grant is to implement florida s state wildlife action plan with select research and monitoring projects aimed at benefiting species of greatest conservation need

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a $607,309 U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Formula Grant award under the State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program. The grant objectives are to implement Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan through six research and monitoring projects focused on species of greatest conservation need. Key projects include surveys of reddish egrets, mapping of biodiversity hotspots, monitoring protocols for eastern spotted skunks and long-tailed weasels, continuation of statewide integrated wildlife mapping and monitoring programs, coral bleaching and disease response monitoring, and assessing climate change vulnerability of certain coral species. The grant period runs from July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2026.

This state wildlife grant includes six projects for the periodcovered.1. Statewide survey of reddish EGRETS2. Distribution of conasprella stearnsil and high biodiversity hotspots on the west coast of FLORIDA3. Establishing best monitoring protocols and assessing occupancy of eastern spotted skunks and long-tailed weasels in the north florida section of the florida wildlife CORRIDOR4. Florida s integrated mapping and monitoring programs (chimmp oimmp) CONTINUATION5. Coral bleaching and disease disturbance response monitoring 6. Assessing climate change vulnerability of condylactis gigantea and ricordea florida and evaluating effectiveness of the c. Gigantea fishery closure