McCarty Woods Conservation Fund

McCarty woods is in the unique position of being a three-acre section of forest at the heart of the University of Florida’s campus. It sits directly adjacent to one of the world’s leading forestry departments and is home to just over a thousand species of plants and animals. McCarty woods also serves as a living classroom. Professors frequently take students into these woods to illustrate natural concepts and showcase the rich biodiversity Florida offers, mere feet from their door.

McCarty woods is a place of community. The woods is a popular location for both students and community members alike to visit and enjoy the outdoors.  Individuals young and old can usually be found walking through woods and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature around them. 

 

Last spring, however, McCarty woods became slated for development under the University of Florida’s 2021-2025 management plan. After weeks of fighting by courageous students and faculty, and a petition that generated over fifteen thousand signatures, the woods were saved. Now is the time for action.

 

The McCarty woods restoration project seeks to preserve and improve McCarty woods for generations of students to come. Through the creation of nature trails, we will create a space where visitors can learn about the various species and ecosystem services that McCarty Woods has to offer. The development and use of signage that will explain how all these organisms work together is integral to this project. Signage will highlight the unique history and various ecosystem services that the woods offer. Additional signage will be used to identify the various plants and animals that call McCarty woods home.

 

We believe students of all degrees—engineering, business, arts—walking past this installment in their day-to-day life will foster an appreciation for the environment around them. Enabling young people to take a moment to learn about natural concepts and cycles that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience

 

Ultimately this project will inspire a love for the natural world. By showcasing the wonders that McCarty woods has to offer, our goal is to instill the appreciation, passion, love, and dedication for sustaining nature needed to solve our growing ecological crisis.

 

We hope you will join my mission to help raise $2,000 for the McCarty Woods Restoration project on the University of Florida campus. Thank you for your time and consideration.