(APLACHICOLA, Fla.) Florida is considering a new approach for protecting 60 imperiled wildlife species including manatees, black bears, bald eagles and gopher tortoises.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discussed the proposal at a meeting Thursday in Apalachicola.
The idea is to integrate broad conservation strategies with individual protection plans for each species that is endangered, threatened or of special concern.
Integrated strategies, for instance, could be developed for multiple species sharing a seaside marsh or upland scrub habitat.
The commission plans to roll out a draft of the proposed Imperiled Species Management Plan next year.
