SCCF

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SCCF The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems.

On Oct. 31, 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation was incorporated to preserve natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. More than five decades later, SCCF is now guided by a larger regional mission that reflects how our efforts are making Southwest Florida better for both human and nonhuman communities of life. At the heart of SCCF are the residents, visitors, and businesses who believe we have a duty to protect our region from threats and care for it for future generations. SCCF's focus areas include:
• Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration
• Water Quality Research
• Policy and Advocacy
• Sea Turtles and Shorebirds
• Native Landscaping
• Habitat and Wildlife Management
• Environmental Education

Learn more and get involved with us at SCCF.org.

Swipe for our favorite kind of mangrove transformations! 😍We are excited to announce the return of our Adopt-A-Mangrove ...
10/14/2026

Swipe for our favorite kind of mangrove transformations! 😍

We are excited to announce the return of our Adopt-A-Mangrove program for its fifth adoption season. For five seasons, community members have opened their homes, businesses, and schools to young mangroves, focused on nurturing them until they’re ready to become part of our shoreline restoration projects.

Ready to adopt? Use the link below to register or save the date for one of our 2026–27 mangrove adoption event to pick up your seedling and learn how to care for it throughout the season.

🌱 October 16
🌱 October 24
🌱 November 21
🌱 December 4

https://sccf.org/2026/09/30/sccfs-adopt-a-mangrove-program-returns-for-its-fifth-adoption-season/

We are thrilled that Bank of the Islands will be the presenting sponsor of our annual Wines in the Wild for the 17th tim...
10/08/2026

We are thrilled that Bank of the Islands will be the presenting sponsor of our annual Wines in the Wild for the 17th time! A favorite fall welcome-back event, this year's celebration of community and conservation will run from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13.

Under moonlit skies, guests will stroll the pathways of our Bailey Homestead Preserve while discovering dishes prepared by top island chefs from Cielo, Tutti Pazzi, Catering by Leslie Adams, ‘Tween Waters Inn, BRGR, and Pinocchio’s to complement w**e tastings.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Check out sponsor levels below and sign up. Limited individual tickets will go on sale Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.
https://sccf.org/w**es-in-the-wild/

October usually brings the year's highest water levels to Sanibel's interior wetlands, but the photo below, taken in lat...
10/08/2026

October usually brings the year's highest water levels to Sanibel's interior wetlands, but the photo below, taken in late August, illustrates how dry they've been this year. Recent changes in how the Sanibel Slough water levels are managed, combined with drought conditions, appear to be drying out these critical wetlands, according to a recent SCCF analysis of aerial photos and field monitoring.

New SCCF modeling of the Erick Lindblad Preserve shows water coverage dropped 75–95%, which means far less food for the wading birds and songbirds that forage there.

Click the link below to learn how our Marine Lab is tracking the hydrology of the island's wetlands, which provide critical habitat to aquatic insects, crabs, other invertebrates, and fish. 👇
https://sccf.org/2026/10/06/erick-lindblad-preserve-wetlands-dry-at-end-of-rainy-season/

A community win for wetlands and water quality 🎉Lee County Commissioners voted to approve a settlement agreement to purc...
10/06/2026

A community win for wetlands and water quality 🎉

Lee County Commissioners voted to approve a settlement agreement to purchase the Eden Oak property. This property has been under the threat of development for years, culminating in the rejection of its zoning application in 2023.

With this settlement agreement, the county is turning the page on attempts to develop this sensitive wetland and important buffer area. We want to commend the Commissioners on recognizing the value of the ecosystem services provided by this property, and hope that they will consider the property for the Lee County Conservation 20/20 program.

SCCF's sea turtle team reports that 31,778 hatchlings have now made their way to the Gulf during the 2026 record-breakin...
10/02/2026

SCCF's sea turtle team reports that 31,778 hatchlings have now made their way to the Gulf during the 2026 record-breaking nesting season. Sanibel's loggerhead count has reached 929 nests, building on the island's new single-season record. The previous record of 878 was set in 2023. Sanibel's west end, spanning the West and Far West zones, now has 714 loggerhead nests, up from a previous high of 631.

Read more about our season's nesting counts and how you can protect island sea turtles: https://sccf.org/2026/09/22/hatchling-count-tops-31000-as-record-loggerhead-season-nears-its-close/

10/02/2026

Happy Flora Friday 🐝🦋

Today we are highlighting a native perennial wildflower; Blue porterweed (stachytarpheta jamaicensis)! Learn more and purchase your own at our Bailey Homestead on Sanibel! ☀️

We have an exciting announcement coming to a screen near you! Stay tuned… 🐢 Window to Wildlife
09/28/2026

We have an exciting announcement coming to a screen near you! Stay tuned… 🐢 Window to Wildlife

This past weekend, more than 300 volunteers came together across Sanibel and Captiva for the Ocean Conservancy’s 41st an...
09/25/2026

This past weekend, more than 300 volunteers came together across Sanibel and Captiva for the Ocean Conservancy’s 41st annual International Coastal Cleanup, joining people around the world in the fight against ocean pollution.

The cleanup wasn’t just about what we picked up; it was also about what we learned. Cleanup participants documented the types of debris they picked up, giving us a snapshot of the pollution making its way into our coastal ecosystems.

Here’s what they found:
🌊 92% found trash smaller than one inch – a reminder that the little things add up!
🌊 80% encountered cigarette butts.
🌊64% found fishing-related debris, including monofilament, crab traps, and buoys.

From large debris to small microplastics, each piece of trash contributes to a cleaner and plastic-free future for our oceans.

A special thank you to our cleanup sponsors Bank of the Islands, Bones Coffee, and SanCap Rotary Club.

Read more about the event 👇
https://sccf.org/2026/09/23/sccf-volunteers-remove-harmful-debris-from-island-beaches/

09/22/2026

Community Plan Amendment Rescheduled!

At last week's Board Of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, a motion was approved to pause the board's decision on sweeping changes that would impact community plans through the CPA2026-00005 amendment. The amendment proposes eliminating all 17 community plans from Lee County's comprehensive growth management plan, and was scheduled for board vote on Oct. 7. This date had already been pushed back from the amendment's original, even shorter, timeline for decision-making.

Commissioner Kevin Ruane proposed the motion to pause the vote on the amendment affecting community plans, citing a lack of time to fully consider the significant comprehensive plan changes and address community members' concerns. He referenced an additional '17 hyperlinks and 100+ more pages' requiring board review on top of the 334-page amendment document that was initially released.

The motion to slow the pace on these sweeping changes is a direct result of advocacy from concerned Lee County residents.

Read more on this issue and contact the BOCC to share your questions and concerns.

https://conta.cc/4yztW9S

Address

3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL
33957

Telephone

+12394722329

Website

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