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National Sentinel Landscapes Site Visit hosted by the CFRPC

The event brought together local Florida partners as well as Sentinel Landscape Coordinators and related staff from designated sentinel landscapes across the country.

In April 2025, the CFRPC hosted the National Sentinel Landscapes Site Visit and Training with the Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR) Sentinel Landscape Partnership, a coalition of 30+ local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners. The event brought Florida stakeholders together with coordinators from designated sentinel landscapes across the country to advance the program’s mission: strengthening national defense and regional resilience through sustainable land management. Participants joined hands-on site visits and training across the APAFR Sentinel Landscape, hearing from partners about challenges, conservation wins, and strategies that can be adapted nationwide.


Across three days, 29 speakers led sessions. A highlight was “Range Day,” where Range Commander Lt Col “Popeye” Chang emphasized APAFR’s role in protecting the Air Force’s “freedom to maneuver” for A-10 and F-35 training. Attendees saw how biodiversity, habitat restoration, and conservation for the Florida Scrub-Jay and other at-risk species can coexist with an active bombing range.


A panel of local landowners shared how working lands support habitat conservation and military readiness. Discussions on Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) explored emerging ways to compensate landowners for stewardship of vital landscapes.


Training also featured a screening of Wildpath’s The Little Brown Bird, documenting efforts within the APAFR landscape to recover the endangered Grasshopper Sparrow, followed by a panel with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, the Air Force Range, and Archbold Biological Station on the power of storytelling in conservation policy. Tours with Archbold Biological Station and the U.S. Sugar Express showed how conservation and agriculture work together to sustain Florida’s ecosystems and working lands. Polk County’s Environmental Lands Program outlined its model for evaluating ecological value and noted strong voter support for targeted conservation through a tax referendum.


The event showcased the Heartland Region’s natural resources, agriculture, ecotourism, history, and culture, while supporting local businesses including River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, local caterers, and the historic Ramon Theater. Many attendees experienced Florida beyond theme parks and beaches for the first time. The visit strengthened connections across the Sentinel Landscapes network and sparked new collaborations to advance conservation, resilience, and national defense nationwide.

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