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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding regional workshops to present information on opportunities for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises and other state-listed species in Florida.

The goal of these workshops is to encourage participation in gopher tortoise conservation at the local level by providing information that can assist participants with establishing local gopher tortoise protection policies. Additionally, the FWC will discuss how local policies can assist in conserving other state-listed species and will provide information on financial incentives available to local governments for habitat management.

A workshop hosted by the City of Clermont is scheduled for May 17 at the Clermont City Center. Representatives from local governments in nearby counties are encouraged to attend.

City of Clermont Tuesday, May 17 9 a.m. – noon Clermont City Center 620 West Montrose Street, Clermont, FL 34711

“The purpose of this regional workshop is to encourage local governments to be our partners in conservation for gopher tortoises, a threatened species whose burrows provide shelter to hundreds of other native species and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need,” said Amanda Mills, local government coordinator for the FWC’s Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section.

The workshop is free, but registration is required as space is limited. Register for the workshop at EventBrite.com, by typing “gopher tortoise” in the “Looking for” search.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise to access the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan.