Tropical Audubon Society (TAS)

Background

The Tropical Audubon Society was founded in 1915 as the Coconut Grove Audubon Society (CGAS) and was reconstituted following World War II as the Tropical Florida Audubon Society, and assumed its current name to avoid confusion with the Florida Audubon Society. It is part of the National Audubon Society network. ³

The TAS advocates for and initiates programs designed to conserve and restore ecosystems in South Florida, primarily Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, through conservation, education programs, and preservation advocacy. It operates from the Doc Thomas house that was converted into their headquarters and the grounds that surround it, now called the Steinberg Nature Center. The group claims to be a science and solutions-based organization that operates on left-of-center principles of “equity, diversity and inclusion.” ¹

Partners

The Tropical Audubon Society lists its partners in giving as the Everglades Foundation, Miami-Dade County, the Miami Foundation, the National Audubon Society, The Villagers Inc., and the Batchelor Foundation. Partners of its Ambassador Program include the Everglades Law Center, Catalyst Miami, Miami Waterkeeper, and Audubon Florida. ⁴

Activities

The Tropical Audubon Society joined with left-of-center Center for Biological Diversity, the Miami Pine Rocklands Association, and the South Florida Wildlands Association to deliver a $925,000 donation to Pine Rocklands for the restoration of impacted land that was announced on July 13, 2026. Pine Rocklands once covered 186,000 acres, most of which has been destroyed in favor of urban development. ²

The TAS claims to be the “driving force” in the 2025 blockage of the approval for South Dade Logistics and Technology District, which it claimed would irreversibly harm lands vital to Everglades restoration, worsen pollution of Biscayne Bay and make the area more vulnerable to flooding and storm surge. ⁵

The organization has called on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to block a proposed toll road that it claims threatens Miami-Dade drinking water and undermines decades of Everglades restoration work. ⁶

Programs

The Tropical Audubon Society conducts birding outings and supports the birding community via a “Tropical Audubon Bird Board” Facebook group and the “Chirp!” program. ^{7  8  9}

The TAS operates education, summer ambassador programs, school outreach programs, and nature camps to educate their audience on the environment. ¹⁰

The group conducts a Go-Native Plant Sale, BEE-cause Flea, Bird Day, Conservation Concerts, Movie Nite, and Walk in the Woods events to engage the community in its efforts. ¹¹

The TAS participates in Biscayne Bay health and Everglades restoration advocacy for clean water, habitat protection, and sustainable development coalitions. ^{12  13}

People

The executive director of the Tropical Audubon Society is Lauren Jonaitis, who is also the co-chair of the Everglades Coalition, vice president of policy and programs at the Society for Conservation Biology North America, and the co-chair of the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition. ¹⁴

The board president is Jose Francisco Barros, an endodontist. Honorary directors include Roger L. Hammer, the author of multiple books and guides on wildflowers, and former Florida state House Speaker Richard Pettigrew (D). ^{15  16  17}