Preserving Key Largo Hammock

A view of an orange and black butterfly perched on a bush.

Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Dagny Johnson at the Grouper Pavilion at the park.

Dagny Johnson moved permanently to Key Largo in 1967 and was concerned about how much development was happening in the Florida Keys.

She founded the Upper Keys Citizens Association in 1971 and, with this group and other concerned citizens, she worked to raise awareness of development plans that would have destroyed the largest contiguous tropical hardwood hammock in the United States.

They went to Monroe County Commission meetings, made a film and presented it to the Florida Legislature, and were covered by Miami Herald writer Carl Hiaasen. Through their efforts, the Port Bougainville development was stopped and the state of Florida bought the land that is now Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, along with other parcels.

As many of her friends recall, she was passionate and had a strong opinion about everything. Johnson is the first woman profiled in Susan Nugent's book, "Women Conserving the Florida Keys," published in 2008.