Florida’s biodiversity is under immense pressure from rapid climate warming, habitat fragmentation, and species decline. During the CAC’s 5th Annual Florida Climate Conference: Climate & Biodiversity, one of the most forward-looking presentations came from Dr. Liv Liberman of Revive & Restore, who outlined how biotechnology is emerging as a powerful new tool in the conservation toolbox. While conservation has traditionally relied on land protection, habitat management, and species monitoring, biotechnology adds an entirely new set of capabilities—ones that may be urgently needed as the pace of environmental change accelerates.
Why Biotechnology Matters Now
Florida is the most biodiverse state in the nation, yet it is also one of the most vulnerable. Rising temperatures, invasive species, disease pressure, loss of genetic diversity, and fragmented habitats are converging to push many native species toward the brink.
Traditional conservation alone cannot move fast enough to counter changes happening 100 to 1,000 times faster than at any other period in Earth’s history. Biotechnology offers ways to intervene at the genetic, cellular, and reproductive levels—tools that can help species adapt or persist long enough to benefit from broader climate stabilization and adaptation efforts.
A New Generation of Tools
Dr. Liberman highlighted an emerging suite of technologies already being tested or deployed across Florida and beyond:
• Biobanking and Genetic Preservation
Freezing and storing genetic material—from corals to mammals—creates a living library of biodiversity. In a warming climate, biobanks safeguard irreplaceable genetic diversity that may be essential for future restoration efforts.
• Assisted Reproduction and Cloning
These approaches can increase population numbers or restore genetic variation in species that have become too small or genetically uniform to survive environmental stresses.
• Stem-Cell Technologies and Gene Rescue
Early-stage research is showing the potential to repair or reintroduce lost genetic diversity in species suffering from disease, inbreeding, or climate-driven decline.
• Tools for Invasive Species Management
Genetic engineering may be used to reduce the spread of invasive species in a targeted and non-destructive way, helping protect Florida’s native ecosystems from further harm.
• AI and Automation for Scaling Conservation
Biotechnology is increasingly paired with AI-driven monitoring, automated restoration systems, and machine-learning models that help scientists scale their work far faster than traditional methods allow.
Complementing—Not Replacing—Traditional Conservation
A key message of Dr. Liberman’s talk was that biotechnology is not a replacement for habitat protection or climate adaptation. Instead, it provides complementary tools that help conservationists address the urgency of the moment. When species no longer have time to naturally adapt, biotechnology may offer the few options that can keep them from crossing irreversible thresholds.
Collaboration Is the Path Forward
Biotechnology succeeds only when paired with cross-sector cooperation. Florida is already home to notable collaborations between nonprofits, government agencies, academic researchers, and technology pioneers who are developing and testing new techniques for wildlife protection. These partnerships will be essential as Florida navigates what is likely to be one of the most challenging biodiversity decades in its history.
The Role of the Community
The exciting progress showcased at this year’s conference illustrates what becomes possible when science, philanthropy, and community support intersect. This conference was 100% sold out, a reflection of how much Floridians care about protecting the natural world that defines our home.
And these events—and the action that follows—are only possible because of donor support. Your generosity gives the CAC the capacity to convene scientists, decision-makers, and innovators who are shaping Florida’s climate-resilient future.
Support This Work Today
As we launch our Giving Tuesday campaign, your contribution directly fuels the research, education, and collaboration needed to protect Florida’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
Make your End-of-Year Gift now:
https://theclimateadaptationcenter.networkforgood.com/projects/264692-giving-tuesday-2025
Thank you for supporting the science that protects the place we call home.