Environmental Organizations

The two environmental organizations that directly impact the Suwannee St Johns Group of the Sierra Club (SSJ) are the National Sierra Club and the Florida Chapter of Sierra.  The organizational structure of the Sierra Club is a pyramid, where National is at the top, the Chapters are at the second level, and Groups at the third.  The National Sierra Club and Florida Chapter have put in place a multitude of rules impacting how local political candidates are endorsed by SSJ, how SSJ elections are conducted by the SSJ Group, how outings leaders become certified, and how dollars are dispersed.  Most other environmental organizations have much more control at the local level.

Prominent environmental and conservation organizations at the state level include:

1. Conservation Trust of Florida 
2. Florida Conservation Coalition (FCC)
3. Florida’s Land and Water Legacy
4. 1000 Friends of Florida
5. Florida Native Plant Society
6. Florida Wildlife Federation
7. United Waterfowlers of Florida

Prominent environmental and conservation organizations at the regional level in Florida include:

1. H. T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
2. Silver Springs Alliance
3. Springs Eternal
4. St Johns Riverkeeper
5. Florida’s Nature Coast Conservancy
6. Our Santa Fe River
7. Chassahowitzka River Restoration Committee
8. Homosassa River Alliance
9. Withlacoochee area Residents, Inc.
10. Rainbow River Conservation, Inc.
11. Save Our Suwannee
12. Our Santa Fe River
13. 1000 Friends of Florida
14. The Smart Growth Coalition of North Central Florida, Inc.
15. Nature Coast Coalition
16. Putnam Conservation Trust
17. Florida Defenders of the Environment
18. MangroveRestoration.com
19. Roy R. Lewis, III
20. Seagrass Restoration Now
21. Coastal Resources Group
22. Fruit Farm Creek
23. Clean Nation
24. Mangrove Restoration
25. Water Action Team

Prominent environmental and conservation organizations at the county level:

1. Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT)
2. Putnam County Environmental Council (PCEC)
3. Southern Legal Counsel, INC. 
4. Alachua Audubon
5. Santa Fe Audubon

Environmental and conservation organizations based in a university or college:

1. Santa Fe College Saints for Sustainability
2. Quiet lakes of Alachua County
3. I.D.E.A.S. for UF
4. UF Water Institute

Cultural and or artistic organizational with a focus on the environment:

1. Blue Path
2. Florida’s Eden
3. Gainesville Green Drinks
4. Cultural Arts Coalition
5. Cinema Verde

Legal services with a focus on the environment:

1. Florida Climate Institute
2. Smart Legal Strategies
3. Lewis Environmental Services, Inc.
4. Community and Environmental Defense Services

An unusual organization which provides an air service to fly to photograph large properties that are threatened in some way is an organization called SouthWings.  This outfit is based in Asheville, North Carolina.