Grant: 25-031C
Project Title: Coordinated Conservation: GPS Trimbles to Track Sea Turtle Nesting
Project Manager: Julia Woodward
Organization: Florida State Parks Foundation (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $16,758.00
Completion Date: 2025-10-06

Summary: The Florida State Parks Foundation will purchase 10 GPS Trimble Units, enhancing sea turtle conservation through accurate location tracking and data collection across 40 state park beaches spanning 108 miles of Florida's coastline. GPS Trimble Units allow park rangers to efficiently record the exact coordinates of sea turtle nests, assess habitat conditions, and streamline data collection. This technology replaces manual paper-based methods with real-time digital data entry, saving valuable time that rangers can now dedicate to other conservation activities. With Trimble Units, rangers can log sea turtle nesting data more efficiently, while facilitating immediate data-sharing with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These devices help park teams monitor nesting site fidelity, habitat impacts, and nesting trends affected by coastal changes, providing insights into sea turtles' response to erosion and climate change. This initiative empowers Florida's state parks to protect critical nesting habitats and contribute to broader conservation efforts.

Results: 10 Archer 4 GPS units were purchased for 10 state parks - Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island, Bald Point, Amelia Island, Little & Big Talbot Islands, Anastasia, Sebastian Inlet, Lovers Key, Honeymoon Island, John D. MacArthur Beach, and Fort Pierce Inlet State Parks. These GPS units will contribute to sea turtle conservation and education by allowing state park rangers to quickly and accurately map, track, and log nesting sites. With these devices, beach survey teams can streamline data collection and submit data to a central database in real time.