Florida’s resilience to storms, hurricanes, rising seas, energy demands, and threats to the state’s infrastructure will be the focus of the 3rd Annual Florida Resilience Conference in Bonita Springs from September 11 to 13, 2024.
This year’s conference focus is ‘Building for Tomorrow.’
“Florida’s unique geography makes it imperative that we gather our best leaders and strategists and learn from their research and experience about ways to increase our state’s resilience,” said David Rathke, Executive Director of Resiliency Florida.
“The future of Florida to continue our economic growth and simultaneously preserve our natural treasures truly depends on our ability address these issues holistically,” added Pepper Uchino, President of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
During the three-day conference, sessions will be conducted on legislative policies and priorities critical to resilience efforts, vulnerability assessments, innovations and partnerships, beach nourishment projects, hurricane recovery efforts, and case studies from the field. Attendees will include members of the Legislature and legislative staff, local officials, environmental organizations, coastal engineers, tourist development councils, community associations, and citizens from across the state who are concerned about resilience issues.
The conference also includes the 67th annual meeting of the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association and the 8th annual meeting of Resiliency Florida. The FSBPA functions as a league of cities and counties on beach and coastal issues, providing information and working with stakeholders throughout Florida on issues related to beach erosion and preservation, and Resiliency Florida is the leading Florida voice on state and regional planning and adaptation for climate and extreme weather impacts.
Registration for the conference is available online through September 6 and then onsite at the Hyatt Regency in Bonita Springs. For more information and the conference agenda, visit the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association at www.floridaresilienceconference.org.
About The FSBPA
The Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association was organized in 1957 at a meeting of 37 local government and university leaders concerned about the growing problem of beach erosion that had virtually destroyed important resort beaches such as Miami Beach. The organization recognized that erosion was a statewide problem that couldn’t be handled by individual cities and counties alone.
The first acts of the newly created FSBPA were to persuade the 1957 Legislature to get the State of Florida involved in beach preservation. Two landmark bills were passed to create the State Department of Beaches and Shores and establish a research wave tank at the University of Florida.
Since then, FSBPA has spearheaded virtually every important component of Florida’s beach preservation program. Thanks largely to FSBPA’s efforts, Florida leads the nation in beach preservation. Over 200 miles of beaches have been nourished. More projects are planned.
On one hand, FSBA functions as a ‘league of cities and counties’ on beach and coastal issues. Most coastal cities and counties are members. This gives the organization a respected voice on beach matters in Florida. On the other hand, FSBPA represents hundreds of private citizens concerned about beach preservation, providing citizens with a forum, access, and timely information. This public-private partnership is vital for preserving Florida’s beaches.
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