Environmental Specialist, Maulik Patel is a land manager with a passion for fighting non-native invasive plant species. Brazilian pepper trees, Old World Climbing Fern, and melaleuca trees are to name a few.
Environmental Specialist, Maulik Patel
Maulik Patel, grew up in the bustling suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. As a child, Maulik loved watching nature shows on Public Television and learning about the fascinating world of nature. After finishing college at Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Zoology, he found his way to the warmth and wilds of SW Florida to pursue his career in Natural Resource Management.
His first job in Naples was as a Naturalist at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and then as a park ranger at Collier-Seminole State Park. Within three years Maulik promoted to Environmental Specialist at Estero Bay Preserve State Park in Estero, Florida. A few years after that he found his job position transferring him back to Collier-Seminole.
Maulik’s work is generally focused on the “bigger picture” in improving the park’s natural resource such as hydrological restoration and the updating of the park’s 10-year Unit Management Plan.
The favorite part of Maulik’s job is getting to work outdoors. Spotting threatened and endangered species in the park while knowing that he plays a major role in protecting and improving their habitat for future generations, gives Maulik his greatest satisfaction. One of these endangered species is the Florida panther of which he recently captured on his wildlife camera on the park’s Prairie Hammock Trail.
Spring is Maulik’s favorite time of the year because of the huge variety of wildflowers and the wonderful weather. It’s also a chance to organize and implement an ecological prescribed burn within the vital areas of the park that depend on fire for its health and sustainability.
Park staff consider Maulik a vital member of their team. Maulik works tirelessly along side park staff and volunteers sharing his knowledge while striving to meet the park's resource management goals. He also participates in numerous outreach programs teaching the public about invasive plant & animal species, prescribed fire, general ecology and the reasons why it is important for us to protect it.
Won't you too consider joining Maulik and our team in this environmentally important and worthwhile effort?
Join the Florida State Parks Team!
