“ENDANGERED PLANTS IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY”

Presented by HEATHER HITT and HOLLY FERREIRA

Heather Hitt is a Recovery Planning Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, based in the Vero Beach Field Office. A lifelong Floridian raised in Jensen Beach, Heather developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors while exploring local scrub habitats, boating in the Indian River Lagoon, and diving along Florida’s coast.

Heather earned both her bachelor’s degree in biological oceanography and her master’s degree in environmental science from the Florida Institute of Technology. Her early career focused on coastal and marine restoration, including rebuilding oyster reefs in the St. Lucie Estuary with the Florida Oceanographic Society in Stuart and leading a coastal outreach program for the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. She later supported conservation partners in Florida by helping secure grant funding for upland habitat restoration through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s State Wildlife Grants program.

Since joining the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2018, Heather has served in both the Division of Environmental Review and the Division of Classification and Recovery. Her work has included leading recovery efforts for 11 federally listed plant species, contributing to the development of critical habitat rules, and advancing recovery planning under the Endangered Species Act. In her current role, she focuses on developing species status assessments and recovery plans for threatened and endangered species—primarily rare plants native to Florida’s unique ecosystems.

Holly Ferreira is a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, based in the Vero Beach Ecological Services Field Office. Originally from North Carolina, Holly grew up enjoying the outdoors from the mountains to the coast. This fostered a love of wildlife and nature, which she has carried through her career.

Holly obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Greensboro College, where she minored in Chemistry, Spanish, and Humanities. She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington, with dual concentrations in Environmental Conservation and Management and Coastal Management. Holly began her wildlife career as a Biological Science Technician at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where she conducted surveys for and helped manage threatened and endangered species.

In her current position, Holly primarily reviews requests for consultation pursuant to sections 7 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act, providing guidance to applicants on ways to avoid and minimize effects to listed species throughout the course of their projects. She also serves as the recovery lead for the endangered Lakela’s mint.

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From October through March, the Chapter usually will meet on the third Thursday of the month at the Lagoon Room of the Environmental Learning Center, 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach. Native plant auction starts at 5:30 followed by the speaker presentation at 6:30.