Welcome to the Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary

The Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary promises to be an Eco-destination and will help to re-cast the environment as a high priority for Marco Island and its residents. This will add a positive new facet to the profile of our decidedly developed community. Ecotourism is defined as, “The practice of touring natural habitats in a manner that has a low-impact on the environment, contributes to the local economy and fosters environmental education.” This is the very essence of the new Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary.

Ecotourism generates money from the natural environment by encouraging tourists to visit and, during their stay, pay for items like food, gas, lodging and entertainment. It is one of the fastest growing types of travel and is estimated to represent 25% of world’s tourism revenues. We estimate over 5,000 tourists and visitors will experience the Marco Island Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary in the first year. Many of them will be people specifically seeking out this environmental destination and who would not otherwise have come across the bridge to Marco Island. That’s great for our community, the environment and the local economy! [Read More]