Our Mission is to preserve the biodiversity of the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. We accomplish our mission in three ways. The first is through conducting biological research to generate new knowledge about Southeastern ecosystems, with emphasis on the longleaf pine ecosystem and its embedded temporary wetlands. Second, CPI provides environmental education through field trips, internship opportunities, classroom visits, festivals, lectures, website, and social media. Third, we acquire lands and directly manage or restore them back to native, natural habitat.
Our People
Ryan Means – President/CEO. He holds a B.S. in zoology and a M.S. degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, both from the University of Florida. Ryan’s professional interests have always been within the longleaf pine ecosystem–notably working to save imperiled amphibians and plants, and guiding human beings into this rich environment for education and rejuvenation. Ryan is the founder and principal investigator of the striped newt repatriation project in the Apalachicola National Forest, FL. This is a unique salamander conservation effort that includes many partners united in a common goal to repatriate an extirpated species back into its former geographic stronghold and move it away from the brink of extinction. Ryan’s CV for more information.
Board of Trustees
President/Executive Director – Ryan Means
Trustee – Cynthia Paulson (above)
Trustee – Tom Ostertag
D. Bruce Means, Ph.D. – CPI founder and President Emeritus. He also is a research ecologist, author, consultant, world traveler, and Adjunct Professor Biological Science at Florida State University. His research includes a wide variety of topics ranging from ecosystems of the southeastern U. S. to fire ecology, the natural history of South American tepuis, biogeography, conservation, endangered species, and the evolution and natural history of amphibians and reptiles. For more about D. Bruce Means, including contact info, click here.
GIS Data Mapper – Rebecca L. Wall
Volunteer – George Weymouth
Volunteer – Jan Luber