The third annual Tampa Bay Resiliency Leadership Summit, scheduled for May 4 and 5, 2023, at the Hilton Resort in Clearwater Beach, will bring diverse experts from across the state and nation together with local leaders to focus on actionable resiliency strategies. Hosted by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) and its Regional Resiliency Coalition, the summit is the first since the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Action Plan was adopted late last year.
A special session on “Lessons from Ian” will cover innovations in post-disaster preparedness. “If Hurricane Ian hadn’t veered south at the last minute, it’s likely that Tampa Bay would have seen even more damage than what was inflicted on Southwest Florida,” said Sean Sullivan, Executive director for the TBPRC. “This is an opportunity to learn from those lessons to better plan for a more resilient future.”
The Resiliency Coalition, formed in 2018, now includes 33 local governments and more than 90 private sector partners who helped develop the Regional Resiliency Action Plan and have committed to work collaboratively to make the region more resilient. The plan is a living document created to address the challenges of climate change and extreme weather that emphasizes actionable, measurable strategies that are fiscally responsible.
Priority actions range from reducing flood risks and developing food resiliency to developing regional adaptations that protect, preserve and restore thriving habitats and abundant wildlife. “We’re already seeing the impacts of rising seas and warmer temperatures, including the loss of thousands of acres of seagrasses, and human-induced stressors are exacerbating these problems,” said Alana Todd, environmental planner for the TBRPC. “Going forward, we will need to work together to identify strategies and then find the funding to minimize the impacts of climate change on the bay’s habitats and wildlife
Panelists for the first day’s breakout session on resilient ecosystems include Maya Burke of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Kara Radabaugh, a research scientist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Christine Angelini, an associate professor in environmental engineering sciences at the University of Florida, Ross Dickerson, Hillsborough County environmental lands manager, and Mark Rachel, Audubon sanctuary manager.
The Leadership Summit will also host the 29th Annual Future of the Region Awards, which will be the highlight of the Leadership Summit luncheon on May 5th.The award ceremony recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions that benefit the regional community. The awards feature a “Natural Resources & the Environment” category recognizing initiatives that protect or restore habitats, improve water quality, or promote conservation and environmental stewardship.
Registration for the Leadership Summit is open through April 28.