Join 1000 Friends of Florida for FREE monthly webinars on planning, development and growth issues facing Florida.

The John M. DeGrove Webinar Series honors the legacy of John M. DeGrove by convening experts to examine the most pressing planning, conservation, and growth management issues facing Florida today. These free webinars provide practical insights into legislation, policy trends, and strategies for protecting community planning and the public interest.

2026 Florida Legislative Wrap Up

March 25, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET)

Join us for a comprehensive review of the 2026 Florida Legislative Session and what it means for planning, land conservation, and local decision-making. 1000 Friends of Florida’s policy team will break down key bills that passed (and those that didn’t), with a focus on changes affecting local governments’ ability to manage growth and protect natural resources. Presenters will explore outcomes, implementation considerations, and next steps for planners, advocates, and public officials across Florida.

This event has been approved for the following continuing education credits for those who attend the live webinar:

• American Institute of Certified Planners (1.5 AICP CM, #9321304
• Florida Bar Attorneys (2.0 General Credits #2509478N)
• Certified Floodplain Managers (1 CEC)

Credit approval pending for  Florida Environmental Health Professionals, and Landscape Architects.

Closing Critical Gaps: Local Strategies and Statewide Partnerships for Florida Wildlife Corridor Protection

April 15, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET)

1000 Friends of Florida and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation have partnered to develop “Mind the Gaps,” an online curriculum designed to protect specific geographic areas within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The curriculum includes two modules: one geared toward elected officials and community stakeholders, and a second focused on land use policies for planning practitioners. This webinar brings together three organizations working across the Corridor to share planning approaches, policy tools, and stewardship strategies. Allyn Childress of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation will discuss the Foundation’s current planning efforts throughout the state, highlighting initiatives designed to protect critical Corridor areas and engage local governments and communities in conservation. Kim Dinkins of 1000 Friends of Florida will present the online Mind the Gaps curriculum modules and explore how they can be applied by both elected officials and planning professionals to advance Corridor protection. Ben Naselius of Tall Timbers will describe a current project in Florida’s “Big Bend” region that connects landowners within the Corridor to technical support and funding opportunities to enhance stewardship practices on working and wild lands. Together, presenters will demonstrate how education, policy, and on-the-ground partnership can build a coordinated, multi-sector approach to protecting Florida’s most vital conservation landscape.

Continuing education credits pending.

From Swamp to Suburb: The True Cost of Wetland Loss in Florida

May 13, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM (ET)

Florida has lost tens of thousands of acres of wetlands in recent decades—transforming landscapes, altering water systems, and threatening wildlife and communities alike. This webinar will explore the drivers and consequences of wetland loss in Florida, with a special focus on new data and tools that visualize this change over time, highlighting the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s recently released wetlands mapping tool. Attendees will gain insight into how policy decisions, development trends, and mitigation practices have impacted the state’s wetlands, and how more holistic planning approaches can help protect these critical ecosystems. Speakers will include leading voices in environmental planning, advocacy, and research working to safeguard Florida’s wetlands before more are lost.

Continuing education credits pending.