When

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM to Friday, Jan 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST

Where

Naples Grande Beach Resort, 475 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL, 34103, United States. Map

Who

Everglades CoalitionOrganizer Detail

About the 41st Annual Everglades Coalition Conference

The 41st Annual Everglades Coalition Conference will be held January 28th - 30th, at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, FL. The largest forum for discussing Everglades restoration progress, challenges, and opportunities, bringing together conservation groups, elected officials, business leaders, local, state, tribal and federal partners, scientists, and students to engage in meaningful dialogue about restoring America’s Everglades.

Sessions

02:30 PM

Registration

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Registration

Jan 28, 2026, 02:30 PM - 05:30 PM

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06:00 PM

Reception

Opening Reception

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Reception

Opening Reception

Jan 28, 2026, 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM

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08:00 AM

Meal

Breakfast

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Meal

Breakfast

Jan 29, 2026, 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

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Speakers

Dennis Goodman

Fine Art Photographer

Dennis Goodman Photography

Sponsors

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09:00 AM

Break

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Break

Jan 29, 2026, 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM

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09:15 AM

Panels

Restoration in the Shadow of Sprawl: SB 180 and Florida’s Growth Dilemma

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Panels

Restoration in the Shadow of Sprawl: SB 180 and Florida’s Growth Dilemma

Jan 29, 2026, 09:15 AM - 10:30 AM

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While taxpayers are investing billions of dollars to restore the Greater Everglades through implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), habitat loss continues at an alarming rate due to ongoing sprawl across South Florida. This session will provide an overview of Florida’s growth management history, examine current pressures on land use policy, and consider how unchecked development could affect the state’s long-term investment in Everglades restoration. A critical issue for discussion will be the implications of SB 180, recently enacted legislation that limits the ability of counties and cities to strengthen land use plans and regulations following hurricanes. The law applies retroactively to 2024 disaster declarations, creating a multi-year freeze until 2027, and prospectively imposes a one-year freeze in areas within 100 miles of future storm tracks. With these new constraints in place, this panel will bring together expert perspectives to explore the key question: if local governments face limits on regulating growth, what does that mean for the future of Everglades restoration and related conservation efforts? Specific CERP projects including the Biscayne Bay and Southeast Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER) Project and the Southern Everglades Study (SES) will be discussed.

10:30 AM

Break

Break - Coffee

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Break

Break - Coffee

Jan 29, 2026, 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

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10:45 AM

Panels

Navigating Current Threats to Federal Protections

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Panels

Navigating Current Threats to Federal Protections

Jan 29, 2026, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

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Early in 2025, an appellate court invalidated the Council for Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing rules. The Trump administration followed up by rescinding them. Individual agencies are also rescinding their NEPA regulations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has proposed amendments to equal longstanding Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations, including a wholesale revision of the regulatory definition of “harm”, which, if finalized and upheld by courts, could significantly limit the reach of the ESA. On-the-ground implementation of changes to the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction evolved throughout the year as well, and the Trump administration proposed another revision to the regulatory definition of "waters of the United States." Changes at the state level have led to shifting state and local government environmental protection options, as well as impacts to citizen efforts to ensure enforcement of those laws. This panel will address these federal environmental protections, Florida's regulatory backdrop, and U.S. Supreme Court cases of interest.

12:15 PM

Meal

Lunch

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Meal

Lunch

Jan 29, 2026, 12:15 PM - 01:30 PM

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Sponsored by by "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society   Voice of Conservation Award - Clyde Butcher

Speakers

Ian Bartoszek

Wildlife Biologist & Environmental Science Program Manager

Conservancy of SWFL

Sponsors

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01:45 PM

Panels

Future Leader Roundtable

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Panels

Future Leader Roundtable

Jan 29, 2026, 01:45 PM - 02:45 PM

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As we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), we turn to the need for scientists, policymakers, advocates, and conservation-minded leaders in all fields to continue the work of protecting and restoring the Greater Everglades in the years ahead. This panel will feature a disucssion among several of this year's student scholarship receipients on their goals and perspetives regarding ecosystem restoration and protection in South Florida, moderated by the National Parks Conservation Association. We encourage all conference attendees -- those who have been coming for many years, and those who are newer to the Everglades community -- to join in this panel and disucssion among the future leaders of the conservation movement who will carry the work of Everglades restoration over the next 25 years and beyond.

02:45 PM

Break

Break - Coffee

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Break

Break - Coffee

Jan 29, 2026, 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM

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03:00 PM

Panels

The Battle in Big Cypress: Accountability in the Everglades Then, Now, and into the Future

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Panels

The Battle in Big Cypress: Accountability in the Everglades Then, Now, and into the Future

Jan 29, 2026, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

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In the late 1960s, a proposal to build a massive airport in the heart of Big Cypress helped launch a counter-movement during the “Environmental Decade” — when Congress passed bedrock laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Thanks to collective action led by tribal and environmental leaders, the Everglades Jetport was halted after one solitary runway was built; Big Cypress National Preserve was formed around it. Once again, the nation’s commitment to environmental conservation is being tested in the crucible of the Everglades — at the exact same site. In 2025, an alliance of tribal leaders and environmental advocates banded together to stop the ominously branded “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, moving swiftly from protesting at the site to filing a lawsuit that drew international attention.   This panel will examine the environmental harm caused by the detention center, the legal protections that were skirted when it was conceived, the threat posed to tribal rights and Everglades restoration, and why the outcome of this battle has broad implications for our environmental future in the U.S.

04:00 PM

Break

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Break

Jan 29, 2026, 04:00 PM - 04:45 PM

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04:45 PM

Poster Session

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Poster Session

Jan 29, 2026, 04:45 PM - 05:30 PM

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05:30 PM

Reception

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Reception

Jan 29, 2026, 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM

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06:30 PM

Meal

Dinner

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Meal

Dinner

Jan 29, 2026, 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM

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CERP 25th Anniversary Fireside Chat with the Everglades Foundation  Sponsored by Everglades Foundation

Sponsors

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08:00 AM

Meal

Breakfast

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Meal

Breakfast

Jan 30, 2026, 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

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Sponsored by Friends of the Everglades  Public Service Award - Dr. Christopher McVoy

Speakers

Royal Gardner

Professor of Law & Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy

Stetson University College of Law

Sponsors

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09:15 AM

Panels

Beyond CERP: Fixing Lake Okeechobee’s Future

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Panels

Beyond CERP: Fixing Lake Okeechobee’s Future

Jan 30, 2026, 09:15 AM - 10:30 AM

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Lake Okeechobee sits at the center of South Florida’s water management system, yet it remains one of the state’s toughest challenges. Water level fluctuations and nutrient pollution damage the Lake and send harmful discharges to the Northern Estuaries and the Everglades. Despite this central role, just 1/16th of the original CERP funding went to the Lake Okeechobee watershed and included no dedicated water quality component. The Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project (LOCAR), while promising, may deliver only about one-fifth of the million acre-feet of upstream storage the region needs. Without new solutions, these gaps will continue to drive ecological, community, and management crises.  This panel will explore what it will take to restore Lake Okeechobee to a healthier, more resilient condition. Key questions include: How can Florida deliver large-scale water storage—through reservoirs, aquifer storage and recovery, distributed water management, wetland protection, or growth management—to stabilize lake levels. How can stored water be effectively treated, given the limits of Stormwater Treatment Areas. And what mix of state, federal, and local leadership is needed to move beyond CERP. By bringing together agency leaders, landowners, and stakeholders, this session will spotlight both the barriers and the opportunities in addressing Florida’s greatest water management challenge: the future of Lake Okeechobee.

10:30 AM

Break

Break - Coffee

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Break

Break - Coffee

Jan 30, 2026, 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

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10:45 AM

Panels

Everglades Watersheds: Are Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) Working?

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Panels

Everglades Watersheds: Are Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) Working?

Jan 30, 2026, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

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This panel will bring together scientists, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to examine Everglades restoration through the lens of Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) in the watersheds. Attendees will gain insights into whether the watershed protection plans and BMAPS are working to protect Florida’s Everglades. Key Discussion Topics: – BMAP Effectiveness -Where are we now, and what progress has been made since initial adoption? Including BMPs, watershed protection plans and large regional projects. – Pollution Reduction Targets - What deadlines and nutrient reduction goals must be met, and how feasible are they? – Science & Technology -Role of new water quality monitoring tools, modeling, and adaptive management. – Climate Change Stressors - How sea level rise and changing hydrology affect restoration outcomes. – Accountability & Enforcement - What happens if stakeholders fail to meet BMAP requirements? Integration with Other Programs - How BMAPs align with CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan), LOSOM (Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual), and state/federal water policies.

12:15 PM

Meal

Lunch

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Meal

Lunch

Jan 30, 2026, 12:15 PM - 01:30 PM

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Sponsored by Audubon Florida  Grassroots Activism Award - Jessica Namath

Speakers

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Congresswoman

U.S. House of Representatives

Sponsors

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01:45 PM

Panels

The Economic Benefits of Smart Growth and Conservation

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Panels

The Economic Benefits of Smart Growth and Conservation

Jan 30, 2026, 01:45 PM - 02:45 PM

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Economic studies conducted in 2024 and 2025 by Urban3, a geo-accounting firm, for the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and 1000 Friends of Florida show that compact urban development and the conservation of critical natural and agricultural land provide significant fiscal and quality of life benefits to Florida communities. These patterns help preserve the environment and boost local economies. For South Florida, the findings highlight the importance of compact growth and rural land conservation in supporting Everglades restoration efforts. Limiting sprawl near the Urban Development Boundary and protecting agricultural areas are key to safeguarding restoration projects, protecting Biscayne Bay, and ensuring that public investments in resilience and environmental restoration are not undone by unchecked development. Urban3’s 2024 report, Economics of Development in Florida, finds that smart growth — compact, walkable, mixed-use development — generates more tax revenue per acre than needed to cover infrastructure costs. These patterns reduce pressure on rural and sensitive lands. Similarly, Urban3’s 2025 report, Economics of Rural Land Use in Florida, shows that keeping land in agricultural use or using conservation easements offers a net positive economic benefit through ecosystem services and municipal revenue that outweighs public service costs. This panel will present new evidence and discuss how these findings can inform Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) updates, land use decisions, and state-level conservation policies. The session is designed for planners, elected officials, advocates, agricultural representatives, and community leaders, providing data-driven tools to show that smart growth is both environmentally essential and fiscally beneficial, and ensuring the long-term protection of the Everglades.

02:45 PM

Break

Break - Coffee

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Break

Break - Coffee

Jan 30, 2026, 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM

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03:00 PM

Panels

Charting the Course for Florida Panther Recovery: All Hands on Deck!

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Panels

Charting the Course for Florida Panther Recovery: All Hands on Deck!

Jan 30, 2026, 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

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Florida panther recovery has reached an inflection point. Genetic rescue in the mid-1990's helped save the species from extinction. Over the past 30 years, the species population grew and initiatives like the Florida Wildlife Corridor have provided hope that female panthers have made it north of the Caloosahatchee River to breed and raise their young. However, the latest research has revealed that the population has stabilized and may be trending downward. Habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicle collisions, and an emerging new threat of feline leukomyelopathy pose significant obstacles to the recovery of this iconic species. This panel will discuss what has been done to date to bring the species back from the brink of extinction, and what key decisions will need to be made now and in the near future to recover the species. Topics will include genetic rescue, reintroduction/translocation, large-scale developments in SW Florida, wildlife crossings, living with panthers, and land conservation programs.  It will likely take an "all hands-on deck" approach that will require cooperation between federal, state, and local governments and private landowners to all do their part before it is too late.

04:00 PM

Break

Break - Coffee

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Break

Break - Coffee

Jan 30, 2026, 04:00 PM - 04:15 PM

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04:15 PM

Panels

The Strongest Movements are Rooted in Art

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Panels

The Strongest Movements are Rooted in Art

Jan 30, 2026, 04:15 PM - 05:15 PM

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The strongest movements are often rooted in art. Performance, music, and photography provide a common rhythm and shared lens that bring people together in understanding. From sound to image, art can draw people beyond the mainstream echo chamber, offering new ideas and perspectives in a universal language. It has the power to influence, spark conversation, and inspire action. This panel of artists—including voices in visual art, music, and photography—will share brief presentations, followed by a group discussion on how their work both shapes and is shaped by the Everglades.

05:15 PM

Break

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Break

Jan 30, 2026, 05:15 PM - 06:00 PM

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06:00 PM

Meal

Dinner

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Meal

Dinner

Jan 30, 2026, 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM

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Sponsored by Conservancy of Southwest Florida Conservationist Award - Eve Samples

Speakers

Xavier Cortada

Professor of Practice

University of Miami

Sponsors

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07:30 PM

Reception

After Party: Everglades Swamp Bash

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Reception

After Party: Everglades Swamp Bash

Jan 30, 2026, 07:30 PM - 08:30 PM

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Speakers

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Dennis Goodman

Fine Art Photographer

Dennis Goodman Photography

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Ian Bartoszek

Wildlife Biologist & Environmental Science Program Manager

Conservancy of SWFL

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Royal Gardner

Professor of Law & Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy

Stetson University College of Law

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Talbert Cypress

Chairman

Miccosukee Tribe

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Marcellus Osceola Jr.

Chairman

Seminole Tribe of Florida

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Congresswoman

U.S. House of Representatives

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Xavier Cortada

Professor of Practice

University of Miami

Xavier Cortada is a celebrated Cuban-American environmental artist whose work turns public spaces into catalysts for community action and climate awareness. A member of the State of Florida Artists Hall of Fame and Miami-Dade County’s inaugural Artist in Residence, Cortada has created public art for institutions including the White House, the World Bank, and CERN.

Sponsors

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Book Your Hotel

Make the most of your 2026 conference experience by staying on-site at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Just minutes from the western Everglades and 30 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport, the resort offers stunning Gulf views.

Rooms sell out quickly! With over 425 attendees in 2025, we encourage you to reserve your room early by visiting: https://book.passkey.com/event/51048668/owner/10894/home.

Room Block Ends 1/2/2026

If your preferred dates are unavailable, please explore our additional room block at the Courtyard by Marriott Naples:
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1764687832267&key=GRP&ap…

Room Block Ends 12/20/2025

Conference Pricing

Early Bird Pricing - Ends Dec. 5 at 11 PM

Full Conference All Meals: $485
Full Conference: $205
Thursday Only: $150
Friday Only: $150
Virtual Only: $160

Regular Pricing - Ends Jan. 4 at 11 PM

Full Conference All Meals: $525
Full Conference: $245
Thursday Only: $190
Friday Only: $190
Virtual Only: $200

Late Pricing - Ends Jan. 21 at 11 PM

Full Conference All Meals: $550
Full Conference: $270
Thursday Only: $215
Friday Only: $215
Virtual Only: $225

Meals - Ends Jan. 21 at 11 PM

Breakfast: $30
Lunch: $45
Dinner: $65

Cancellation policy

Cancellation is available up until January 14th for a all refunds minus processing fees.

Finalizing your payment

Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM to Friday, Jan 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST

Naples Grande Beach Resort, 475 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL, 34103, United States. Map

Everglades CoalitionOrganizer Detail

About the 41st Annual Everglades Coalition Conference

Sessions

Registration

Opening Reception

Breakfast

Break

Restoration in the Shadow of Sprawl: SB 180 and Florida’s Growth Dilemma

Break - Coffee

Navigating Current Threats to Federal Protections

Lunch

Future Leader Roundtable

Break - Coffee

The Battle in Big Cypress: Accountability in the Everglades Then, Now, and into the Future

Break

Poster Session

Reception

Dinner

Breakfast

Beyond CERP: Fixing Lake Okeechobee’s Future

Break - Coffee

Everglades Watersheds: Are Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) Working?

Lunch

The Economic Benefits of Smart Growth and Conservation

Break - Coffee

Charting the Course for Florida Panther Recovery: All Hands on Deck!

Break - Coffee

The Strongest Movements are Rooted in Art

Break