Network For Ecology’s Fundraising Campaign
Florida’s clear springs are iconic natural treasures, but they are also the crucial winter sanctuary for the state’s beloved manatees. Today, both the springs and the manatees face a dual, existential crisis.
Network For Ecology is proud to launch our first major campaign, “Crisis in the Clear.” Through this initiative, we are raising critical funds to directly support the essential, life-saving work of the Save the Manatee Club (SMC) and the Florida Springs Council (FSC) as they combat the linked threats of water pollution and starvation.
The Problem: A Crisis of Ecosystem Collapse
The current situation is dire, marked by an unprecedented collapse in key ecosystems:
- The Manatee Starvation Crisis: Manatees depend on the warm, consistent water of Florida’s springs and spring-fed rivers. Pollution-driven algal blooms have destroyed vast beds of eelgrass and seagrass—their primary food source—leading to mass starvation.
- The Springs Degradation: Decades of nutrient pollution (from septic systems, wastewater, and fertilizer runoff) have contaminated the Floridan Aquifer. This pollution fuels the toxic algal blooms, causing the devastating loss of up to 90% of the seagrass in critical habitats like the Indian River Lagoon. The springs are quite literally choking.
Our Mission: Funding the Experts
Network For Ecology is dedicated to providing financial support to the organizations that are on the front lines of rescue and policy action. Our fundraising directly enables their crucial missions:
🐬 Save the Manatee Club
A world-renowned nonprofit founded by Jimmy Buffett and former U.S. Senator Bob Graham, dedicated to protecting manatees and their habitat through research, rescue, public education, and advocacy. They work directly on safeguarding warm-water habitats, restoring natural springs, and addressing threats such as boat strikes, red tide, and declining water quality.
💧 Florida Springs Council
A leading statewide coalition dedicated to saving Florida’s springs and the Floridan Aquifer, the source of drinking water for over 20 million people. The Florida Springs Council works on the front lines of policy — directly influencing legislation, challenging harmful water policies, and engaging in science-based advocacy to protect Florida’s freshwater future.
What Your Support Achieves
Your purchase, facilitated through Network For Ecology, has clear and immediate impacts on the ground and in policy:
- Supports SMC Rescue Efforts: Provides medical care, rehabilitation, and feed for injured or starving manatees.
- Funds FSC Policy Action: Enables the Florida Springs Council to advocate for stronger pollution control laws, challenge inadequate regulations, and drive policy changes critical for spring restoration.
📣 Take Action: Be the Solution
The manatees cannot wait, and the springs need advocates. Your support ensures the Save the Manatee Club can respond to emergencies and the Florida Springs Council has the resources to fight for long-term spring protection and policy reform.