| The Coastal Plains Institute (CPI) is a nonprofit organization in Florida. It's main purpose is the preservation of the biotic diversity of the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. CPI believes its main objective can best be achieved through two activities: Education and Research. It is hoped that through these activities the biotic diversity of the US Coastal Plain will be preserved forever. |
News A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt We have entered into a Cost Share Agreement with the National Forest to conduct a 5-year project that uses repatriation and short-term wetland augmentation to help a critically imperiled amphibian species avoid local extirpation or even extinction. Click here to read the proposal. Creation of Remote Footprints We have created a new environmental education and research branch of CPI with a mission to utilize experiential outdoor learning and scientific exploration as tools to inspire individuals and families to appreciate remote and roadless areas. Click here to learn more about Remote Footprints. Petition to List the Striped Newt In July of 2008, CPI petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Striped Newt as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. We will post any information regarding the outcome of this petition here. Final Report to FWC "Management Strategies for Florida's Ephemeral Ponds and Pond-Breeding Amphibians". Draft Database . This is a geo-referenced database of projects conducted in Florida involving pond-breeding amphibians and is in draft form. Rebecca is in the process of finalizing the database, editing errors, and double-checking accuracy. The database has been made available in the meantime to be used in its incomplete form. Brochure: Florida's Ephemeral Ponds and Pond-Breeding Amphibians for public and private landowners and land managers. Feel free to print and distribute. CPI also has printed versions of this brochure available. For more information, please contact Rebecca: cpi.rebecca@gmail.com or 850-544-5660. |
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The People: The people who make up CPI are D. Bruce Means, President and Executive Director; Ryan C. Means, Wildlife Ecologist; Rebecca P. M. Means, Wildlife Ecologist; Kathy Steinheimer, Administrator; a Board of Trustees (Ellie Whitney, Vice President; Gerald O. Grow, Treasurer; Donna Holshouser-Stinson, Secretary; Tom Nelson, Trustee); and our ever-growing, contributing members base. |
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Membership: Any person wishing to assist in achieving the objectives of the Coastal Plains Institute is invited to join. CPI is a nonprofit educational and research organization that needs tax-exempt contributions from the public. |
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Research Projects: CPI supports and encourages research on a wide variety of natural history topics relevant to preserving the biodiversity of the southeastern U.S. Coastal plain, including research on ecosystems, fire ecology, habitat management, rare and endangered species, and autecology studies of species of animals and plants. |
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Ecology Courses: As part of CPI's mission to Educate the north Florida and south Georgia community about the ecology of the Coastal Plain, Dr. Bruce means teaches three courses; Wetlands Ecosystems, Uplands Ecosystems; and Coastal Strands and Barrier Islands. |
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Environmental Education: CPI's environmental education mission has been expanded into a new branch called Remote Footprints. One of the main goals of this new branch is to help families enjoy the outdoors together through natural science and experiential learning. |
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Publications and Popular Articles: CPI's most important mission is educating the public about the values of the biodiversity of the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain--and the conservation of those values. An important way we do this is by publishing books, scientific and technical articles in peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, and popular articles in such magazines as National Wildlife, International Wildlife, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Southern Living, Florida Wildlife, Tallahassee Magazine, Natural History, Fauna, and others. Feature Article (pdf). |
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Documentary Films: Another way that CPI can reach a large audience with its conservation messages is through documentary films. CPI has participated in the making of more than 55 television segments ranging from 3-minute clips on local television stations to more than a dozen hour-long documentary films. We place high priority on this important medium for getting our messages out to the public. |
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Slides and Lecture Presentations: CPI scientists are available to give audio-visual assisted lectures on a variety of topics about the natural history of the southeastern U. S. Coastal Plain. These include longleaf pine ecology, wet flat and carnivorous plant bogs, southeastern US biogeography, wetlands, temporary ponds, potential effects of global climate change, ecosystems, fire ecology, and the biology of selected animals, especially vertebrates. Please contact us for details and to arrange a lecture presentation. |
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Services for Filmakers: Services for Film Makers: CPI has unlimited facilities for documentary film makers interested in filming any aspect of the natural history of the southeastern U. S. We own two large properties (totaling 300 acres) with native biota and habitats where television crews can set up to film native animals, plants, controlled burns, longleaf pine forest, cypress swamps, blackwater rivers, seepage bogs, carnivorous plants, and much more. We have served as the "fixers" for documentary films produced by and for National Geographic Television, BBC Television, and Discovery Channel. Contact us about your needs by phone 850-681-6208 or email us at means@bio.fsu.edu. |
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PARC: Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. |
| D. Bruce Means PhD., Executive Director |
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