40th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference

A record number of attendees came together for the 40th annual Everglades Coalition Conference, “Reflections on Progress and Opportunities,” held this year in Miami at the Miccosukee Hotel and Casino. The conference marked the first time the gathering was held on Tribal land.

Organized by the Everglades Coalition—a diverse group of conservation organizations, scientists, policy leaders, and partners—the event brought together nearly 500 advocates across the region, Tallahassee and Washington, DC to chart the future of Everglades restoration and to rally support for the vital ecosystems of South Florida.

Audubon Florida, a proud member of the Everglades Coalition, played a key role in this year’s conference, as Director of Everglades Policy Kelly Cox co-chaired the event.

The conference kicked off with agency leaders, partners, and Everglades Policy Associate Caitlin Newcamp touring the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands CERP project.

Audubon then hosted a breakfast with local wildlife photographer, author, and board member Kirsten Hines, with remarks by Executive Director Julie Wraithmell and National Audubon Society’s Vice President of Water and Habitat Conservation Julie Hill-Gabriel. In the afternoon, the Audubon team went out on a Miccosukee airboat tour with congressional staffers to see restoration on the ground!

The conference was filled with panels and sessions that highlighted not only the challenges still facing the Everglades but also the impressive progress made in recent years. Audubon’s Jerry Lorenz, PhD, along with representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Parks Conservation Association, discussed how different plant and animal populations are adapting (or not) to a changing climate and how we can support these species in the face of future impacts. Presentations focused on key issues affecting the Everglades, including water management, wildlife protection, habitat restoration, and community engagement. It also served as a platform to recognize the achievements of restoration efforts underway, including the people and teams that are making it happen.

Congratulations, Charles Lee!

Charles Lee, Audubon Florida’s director of advocacy, was named to the Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame. In front of a packed house at the 40th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference held in Miami, Executive Director Julie Wraithmell recounted Lee’s environmental legacy, which officially began as a youth member of the Tropical Audubon Society. Over his 50-plus-year career with Audubon Florida, he has contributed to some of the most important legislation of our time. Lee now joins a shortlist of people who have made a substantial commitment to Everglades restoration, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Arthur R. Marshall, and Nathaniel Reed.

This article was published in the State of the Everglades Report/Spring 2025 edition