Panther Passage Conservation Bank

Endangered Florida Panthers Find a New Passage to Conservation

Long relegated to the dwindling natural lands of South Florida, the Florida panther has a new hope to restoring its population numbers. Scientists and environmentalists have long acknowledged for the species to make a comeback from the brink of extinction it would be necessary to create a wildlife corridor extending North of the Caloosahatchee River. The 4,010 acres in Panther Passage Conservation Bank being restored and preserved is owned by Floraland Dairy Inc. Floraland has owned and operated the property for over 50 years and is the sponsor of the Panther Passage Conservation Bank that shall provide the critical linkage to this conservation puzzle. “Floraland have been long term stewards of the land and the environment and are proud to play an important role in the recovery of the panther” according to George Milosevic of Floraland.

With approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panther Passage has positioned itself to be the preeminent panther habitat conservation bank of Southwest Florida. The location of Panther Passage Conservation Bank, inside the panther dispersal zone, provides a strategic advantage not only to the survival of the Florida panther, but to the success of the business venture that will preserve these lands. The size and location of the conservation bank generates a large supply of panther habitat credits, providing the most affordable mitigation options for the region to balance conservation goals with sustainable development.

Conservation Credits Provided:

Panther Habitat Units

Testimonials

“Desmond Duke of EcoResolve has been a valuable resource and a great colleague for Bluefield Ranch Mitigation Bank for many years. Desmond’s uncompromising integrity, loyalty and dedication are coupled with his competence (experience, knowledge, creativity and high energy) add value to Bluefield Ranch and to our customers. Armed with a great personality, including charm, grace and humor, Desmond participates actively in Bluefield’s professional and social activities, having become an integral member of our Bluefield family.”

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Dave McIntosh

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Trustee and Principal, Bluefield Ranch Mitigation Bank

“I have had the opportunity to work with Desmond for 22 years and EcoResolve since its inception. In that time I have found that Desmond’s business ethics are beyond reproach and his knowledge and expertise in mitigation banking and sales is unrivaled by his peers. I know you will find, as I have, the unique pleasure of working with an industry leader!"

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Robert Miller,

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Chief Executive Officer, The Wetlandsbank Company, LLC

“Anyone interested in using Desmond Duke’s services should note that he is one of a small handful of the “original” mitigation professionals in the United States. Desmond's work in mitigation banking dates back to the early 90’s and his representation of the first successful entrepreneurial mitigation bank in the US. It would be truly impossible to find anyone more experienced in our field! I recommend Desmond and hold his professional assistance in the highest regard.”

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George Howard

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CEO, Restoration Systems, LLC

“Desmond Duke and I have been working together for over 8 years. His knowledge and expertise of mitigation lands and Banks (Federal and State) are what brought us to come to know one another very well. Desmond helped me create and develop the largest Panther Conservation Bank in the United States. His knowledge and connections in the industry led to our success. I’m a vegetable farmer with over 30 years of farming experience so I believe I know what hard work is and Desmond is a hard worker. He will put in the extra time and effort to get the job completed. Desmond is a forward thinking out-of-the-box businessman. We have spent many hours together. He always strives to make the right decisions, always putting his clients first. Choosing Desmond on my project (Panther Passage Conservation Bank) was the best decision I could have ever made and for this I am blessed.”

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Brett DuBois

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Broker/Co-Owner, Tarpon Blue Real Estate Services LLC

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Desmond Duke of EcoResolve, for his willingness to help us resolve a mitigation banking issue we had related to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) permit. Desmond unselfishly supported a decision to come to our aid on a very sensitive banking discrepancy. He supported a decision to ratify a permitting inconsistency, where his bank and another were both named as mitigation banks on the same project for both the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and ACOE permits. Without hesitation, Desmond proactively helped us unify the banking mitigation on our clients behalf. Desmond openly supported unification of the mitigation ultimately going to a competitor’s bank with whom our client had an existing contract, saving our client in excess of $200,000 that would have gone to his representative bank. In my opinion, his willingness to recognize and support the mitigation credits, consistent with his understanding of the permitting intent, regardless of his loss of economic gain, demonstrated not only his underlying understanding of the permitting process, but more importantly his character and integrity as an individual and professional in this complex field. We are gratefully indebted for his actions.”

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David Douglas, P.E.

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President, David Douglas Associates, Inc

“For more than 20 years, I have worked closely with Desmond Duke in his capacity as a marketer of mitigation bank credits for both wetlands and endangered species. Desmond has been trustworthy, knowledgeable, diligent and highly networked in his extraordinarily successful career with The Wetlandsbank Company and his work at EcoResolve”.

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George Platt, Esq.,

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Partner and General Counsel, The Wetlandsbank Company, LLC

This is to express both my gratitude and acknowledgement of the well-established superior reputation and service provided by Desmond Duke and EcoResolve. For over 15 years, I have had the opportunity to work with Desmond on a number of projects, and in a number of capacities, in both the public and private sectors.

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John Fumero, Esq.

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Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce, PA

For more than a decade Desmond has been a really valuable member of our Bluefield team and we’ve enjoyed the relationship as much as we have the credit sales he’s made. What I particularly appreciate is that he has a genuine interest and passion for the science and conservation that underwrites our mitigation, and he has worked diligently to master all of the technical and ecological elements of our work so that he can convey to credit buyers and their...

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Chuck Olson, Ph.D

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Principal, MitBank USA

"I have been involved in mitigation banking for 20 years, with Panther Island Mitigation Bank and with Corkscrew Regional Mitigation Bank, and have worked closely with Desmond Duke and EcoResolve in both banks. Desmond has been a major part in the success of these mitigation banking projects. Desmond’s intellect, work ethic and honesty are the qualities that one always seeks in a professional relationship."

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William L. Barton, P.E.

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President, Mitigation Land Partners, Inc.

“Desmond is incredibly knowledgeable of mitigation banking, credit sales, and regulatory requirements. He responds quickly and accurately to requests for documentation and its always a pleasure working with him.”

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Brent Setchell, P.E.

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District Drainage Design Engineer, Florida Department of Transportation

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Panther Passage Conservation Bank

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