Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 3-26-10

FEATURED STORIES

Senate bill would cut back on environmental permitting process

By John Frank and Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

A little-noticed jobs bill being considered by the Legislature calls for streamlining environmental regulations to the point where some development projects of up to 40 acres wouldn't need state or local permits at all.

Renewed Support for an Everglades Land Deal, but Cost Is Still in Question

By Damien Cave

New York Times

Gov. Charlie Crist reaffirmed his commitment this week to the $536 million purchase of 73,000 acres of land from United States Sugar, declaring that it would heal both the Everglades and the coastal estuaries that are vital to Florida’s tourist economy.

Florida water managers weigh cuts, selloffs to finance U.S. Sugar deal

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

With the odds of borrowing a half-billion bucks growing dicey, water managers are exploring new ways to finance Gov. Charlie Crist's deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. -- a controversial land buy the governor stood firmly behind Thursday during a South Florida visit.

Death of coral reefs could devastate nations

By Brian Skoloff

The Associated Press

Coral reefs are dying, and scientists and governments around the world are contemplating what will happen if they disappear altogether.

Fishermen, activists at loggerheads on turtle change

By Jim Waymer

Florida Today

Federal biologists say loggerhead sea turtles could go extinct in the "foreseeable future."

Truth and hysteria about Hometown Democracy

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

A bunch of Greek guys started a political debate 2,500 years ago that we're still fighting about.

Is St. Pete Beach a valid case study for Amendment 4?

Staff Report

St. Petersburg Times Politifact

A group fighting a statewide ballot initiative that would give voters direct say on land use decisions says people need look no further than the disastrous results of a similar initiative in tiny St. Pete Beach.

Stop developers' handout

Editorial

Miami Herald

Suddenly, a new strip mall turns up two blocks away from your home. What about public notices? Permit hearings? Not needed any more if the Florida Senate gets its way.

Florida sprawl – where will it end? Vote YES on Amendment 4!

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 3-26-10:

Gulf drilling bill not a priority

By Michael Peltier

News Service of Florida

Related editorial: Access to federal waters may be the real goal of legislative proponents

Florida lawmakers will vote on a bill to expand oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, but it may not be this session, a key House drilling advocate said Friday.

House will float oil-drilling bill

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

The Florida House will roll out an oil-drilling bill in two weeks, Speaker-designate and chief proponent Dean Cannon said Friday.

Oil drilling off our shores: Dean Cannon, we’ve come to know ye

By Cathy Harrelson

Creative Loafing Tampa

After concluding the House’s final workshop on the exploration of oil and gas drilling off Florida coasts on Friday, Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) outlined three areas he expects the House bill to include when it is released in two weeks.

A New Report Outlines How Much Oil Is In Florida Waters Off The Gulf Of Mexico (audio interview)

By Robert Lorei

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

Next up- Frank Alcock is a professor of political science at New College in Sarasota. He teaches about, among other things, sustainable development.

On The Mark - Oil and tourism: Not a good mix

By Mark Strain

Naples News

It is surprising how quickly some Floridians are willing to reduce their standards if there’s money involved.

Commission dumps drilling resolution

Staff Report

St. Augustine Record

A city resolution Monday night to add St. Augustine to a long list of cities and counties opposing offshore oil drilling failed for lack of support.

Offshore Drilling Revenue Sharing Takes Hold in Senate Climate Bill

By Mike Soraghan, Darren Samuelsohn and Katherine Ling

New York Times

Coastal states that agree to oil and gas drilling off their shores would be offered one-quarter of the revenue, under the latest draft of the new climate and energy bill, sources on and off the Hill say.

10 Senate Democrats oppose climate bill if it expands coastal drilling

By Renee Schoof

Miami Herald

Ten Senate Democrats from coastal states warned in a letter released Thursday that they won't support a climate and energy bill if it permits a big expansion of drilling for offshore oil and natural gas.

Florida should forget about drilling in gulf

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

Drilling off Florida's coast won't increase America's independence from foreign oil, lower gasoline prices or raise billions of dollars annually for the state.

Words of wisdom

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Listening to the U.S. Navy has always paid off for Northwest Florida, where our economy has been buffered from the worst of the recession by stable military spending.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"

Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.

MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

The future of water availability and desalination in Florida

By Sean Kinane

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

Yesterday was World Water Day.

New EPA rules label a dozen more Collier, Lee waterways as polluted, analysis shows

By Eric Staats

Naples News

More Southwest Florida streams and canals would violate water quality standards under a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to limit pollution in Florida waters, according to a Naples Daily News analysis.

State spending $650,000 for sensors to alert U.S. 41 drivers panthers may be near

By Eric Staats

Naples News

As U.S. 41 runs through the Big Cypress National Preserve, the rural highway crosses a natural pathway that is a favorite route for endangered Florida panthers – with deadly results.

Damage, restoration of Florida waters discussed by authors

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Florida needs to change the way it manages and uses water in the future as it repairs the mistakes of the past, a panel of environmental book authors suggested on Saturday.

With growth management vote coming, St. Johns has become focal point

By David Hunt

Florida Times-Union

In the debate over Florida growth management, a spotlight is shining on St. Johns County.

Amendment 4 forum … the short form

By Scott Maxwell

Orlando Sentinel

In today's edition of the Friday Files, we take a look at which politician took a free trip to Las Vegas, which one recently put himself up for bid and which one seems to be suffering from a bout of selective amnesia.

Helping Amendment 4: Interests that oppose it just don't learn

By Joel Engelhardt

Palm Beach Post

Hometown Democracy recognizes that, too often in Florida, the balance falls on the side of the powerful interests.

Bald eagles, plastic bags don't mix - especially in Bonita Springs

By Tara E. McLaughlin

Naples News

The bald eagle, a symbol of the United States, has become for some in Bonita Springs a reason to oppose plastic grocery bags.

Endangered whale birth photos taken near Navy site

By Russ Bynum

The Associated Press

Biologists conducting a survey for the U.S. military said Tuesday they photographed an endangered right whale giving birth near a proposed Navy training range offshore of Georgia and Florida.

Area mayors agree: Cities must cooperate to avoid water crisis

By Bob Koslow

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Having enough water at reasonable rates and economic development to provide quality jobs emerged as the priorities for the six mayors of west Volusia County gathered Thursday night at Stetson University.

Federal ban on python imports would hurt pet trade, critics say

By William E. Gibson

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A proposed ban on the sale and importation of pythons and other constrictive snakes threatens the livelihood of thousands of pet shops and breeders, Congress was told on Tuesday.

"Jobs" bill really eases limits on growth

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

When Gov. Charlie Crist caved in to developers last year and eviscerated Florida's growth management laws, he pledged to push the Legislature this year to create a new fee to help pay for roads to accommodate new development.

Keep growth management agency

Editorial

Tampa Tribune

Last session, Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham was able to fend off insidious efforts to either abolish the growth management agency or pare its scope.

Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin, Miami Herald

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Wildwood Preservation Society Summer 2009 Update

Great Blue Heron in Fred George Basin July 3, 2006. Photo taken within property once threatened by development, now slated for conservation.

Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Summer 2009 Update

Note: click here to view our previous update.

We recently received the most exciting news to date regarding our three year campaign to Save Fred George Basin. Leon County has finalized the purchase and preservation of a sensitive 78-acre parcel that had been previously slated for development. The property contains karst wetlands used as core Wood Stork foraging habitat, and the pristine Fred George Pond. WPS supports the county’s continuing efforts to negotiate with landholders in order to place several adjacent properties into conservation, including a small lot containing the important Fred George Sink, which feeds into the Floridan Aquifer and the City of Tallahassee drinking water supply.

It has been an active nesting season for endangered wood storks in Fred George Basin’s Wildwood rookery. With overdevelopment in South Florida pushing more wood storks north from their original habitat, it is more critical now than ever that they be protected. Click here to see recent photos of wood storks and other wildlife in Fred George Basin.

Meanwhile, Fat Cat builders have begun a public relations and lobbying campaign to undermine current wood stork protections by downgrading their endangered status. It seems wealthy developers will stop at nothing to pave over our beautiful state. Despite a banner nesting season in 2009, biologists are not convinced that wood storks are on the path to a sustained recovery, primarily due to overbuilding in South Florida. You can learn more about this issue by visiting our blog post here. Watch for future updates from us via MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and our main blog.

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Many thanks to Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Big thanks to videographer Rob Pepple.

On March 29th WPS founder Misty Penton led a community clean-up of Fred George Basin. The event was covered by WCTV CBS News. About fifteen volunteers helped remove trash and debris in order to prevent contamination of our drinking water, minimize flooding, and help protect endangered wildlife that lives nearby.

WPS founder Misty Penton with WCTV reporter Kelsey Johnson

Wildwood Preservation Society worked unsuccessfully during the recently concluded Florida legislative session to prevent lawmakers from gutting the critical Florida Forever program. Florida Forever is widely regarded as the most successful state land conservation program in the country, with more than 2 million acres of our state’s most sensitive areas having been preserved since its inception. Fred George Basin is among Florida Forever’s beneficiaries, as WPS assisted Leon County in securing Florida Forever grant funding to match costs associated with acquiring the last undeveloped portions of the basin. WPS will continue to work with the Florida Forever Coalition to restore this valuable program when next year’s budget is deliberated by our legislature.

Unfortunately, the loss of Florida Forever wasn't the only legislative activity this past session that angered conservationists. The legislature passed, and Gov. Crist signed into law, a controversial bill (SB 360) aimed at promoting more developmental sprawl. The law, which was widely criticized by municipal governments and newspaper editorial boards, was written and supported by builders and vigorously opposed by environmental groups. The Governor also signed a bill (SB 2080) that shuts out the public on important water-use decisions and allows a handful of bureaucrats to dictate permitting for large-scale wetlands destruction. Our friends at Florida Wildlife Federation have a good summary of what the 2009 legislative session means for Florida’s environment here.

We do have good news from South Florida, where a judge’s ruling will help prevent Lowe’s from building a large retail store outside of the Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary, right up to the edge of the Everglades. This important decision should bolster efforts to stop sprawl from further encroaching on the crown jewel of Florida’s ecological landscape. Thank you to everyone who responded to last year’s action alerts that we distributed on behalf of Hold the Line and Progress Florida to stop Lowe’s reckless plan.

And finally, WPS has joined the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, a group of more than 5,900 organizations seeking new and greater funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. The coalition is working to promote wildlife action plans designed to give us the ability to conserve wildlife and the lands and waters where they live for future generations.

Wildwood Preservation Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit effort. Special thanks to our many supporters, volunteers and coalition members. Questions? Email us at wildwoodpreservation@gmail.com.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Greedy developers seek to weaken endangered wood stork protections

Ed. Note: The efforts described in the articles below by builder groups and deep-pocketed developers to weaken protections for endangered wood storks amount to nothing more than a charade of misinformation based on pure greed, plain and simple. The builders cite 2006 nesting numbers and point to the big rebound in wood stork nesting this year. However, they fail to mention the fact that during 2007 and 2008 South Florida’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, historically the largest wood stork rookery in the U.S., suffered complete nesting failures. Additionally, overdevelopment in South Florida has already driven wood storks into North Florida and beyond. Wildwood Preservation Society has been working for more than three years to protect core foraging habitat for endangered wood storks in Fred George Basin, Leon County. Even with the current protections in place, one must cut through a mountain of red tape in order to prevent reckless developments in and around wood stork habitat. One final point: these builders want to keep paving over our state with new homes while hundreds of thousands of existing residential homes sit vacant due to the housing and economic crisis.

Bird vs. builders: Endangered stork's status called 'an albatross'
By David Fleshler
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Related AP story: Fla. builders want endangered bird reclassified
Although the recession is the chief obstacle to the construction of new houses in Florida, the building industry has taken aim at a more humble opponent: the endangered wood stork.

Everglades' wood stork enjoys a rebirth
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Related AP story: Wood stork population flying higher in Everglades
A boom in breeding by the rare wood stork has added fuel to developers' argument that the bird no longer belongs on the endangered list.

Latest scapegoat..er bird in housing slump debate
By Tom Palmer
Lakeland Ledger
A large wading bird appears to have joined impact fees as the prime culprit for lack of recovery of the housing market.

Florida's Growth Machine: blame the birds
By Gimleteye
Eye On Miami
It is sickening to watch the Growth Machine taking advantage of the worst economic crisis since the Depression to gear up new rules and regulations so that when housing markets return, citizens will have even less access to the law to protect their communities and the environment.


Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy of Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.



Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 6-5-09

FEATURED STORIES

Crist signs growth bill, sells Florida down the river
By Howard Troxler
St. Petersburg Times
In the defining moment of his career Monday, Gov. Charlie Crist sold the state of Florida right down the river.

Bailing Out the Land Speculators
By Alan Farago
Counterpunch
As Democrats approach a filibuster proof US Senate, every race will be a heated battle. In 2010 one of the key contests will be in Florida where a governor perceived to be moderate, Charlie Crist, is locked in a primary against the former House Speaker in the Florida legislature, Marco Rubio.

Group looks to bring drilling vote to ballot
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida via FloridaEnvironments.com
With efforts stalled over whether to allow drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast, the fight may go directly to Florida voters.

FWC sets June 17-18 meeting in Crystal River
Press Release
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Take action: Email turtles@myfwc.com and urge support for the freshwater turtle ban.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet at the Plantation Inn in Crystal River June 17-18. FWC meetings are open to public participation.

What next for Florida's springs after bill dies?
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Former state biologist Jim Stevenson said he recently asked a teenager who had grown up in Tallahassee if he'd ever been to Wakulla Springs.


Editorial cartoon by Andy Marlette, Pensacola News Journal

MORE GREEN NEWS

River pipe postponed until dioxin level drops
By Peter Guinta
St. Augustine Record
Georgia-Pacific's paper plant in Palatka will not be allowed to build its proposed new 40-million-gallons-per-day pipeline into the middle of the St. Johns River until the company lowers its discharge of dioxin, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said Monday.

New jobs or healthy river: Which is more important?
By Ron Littlepage
Florida Times-Union
I'm fearful that we will soon face a classic confrontation - the health of the St. Johns River vs. jobs.

Crist Environmental Enforcement Initiative Fizzles
Press Release
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
The Crist administration's touted 2007 pledge to toughen anti-pollution enforcement in Florida has been a failure, according to an analysis of state enforcement statistics released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

Judges: South Florida water managers did not violate Clean Water Act
The Associated Press
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Related: Earthjustice criticizes Okeechobee reversal
A federal appeals court has reversed a Miami judge's ruling that Florida water managers violated the Clean Water Act by pumping contaminated water from farmland into Lake Okeechobee.

Zoning Commission gives nod to expanding rock mining in Everglades
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Rock mining would claim more former Everglades land under a development plan endorsed by the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission on Thursday.

Progress Energy warms up to solar energy
By Robert Trigaux
St. Petersburg Times
Hard to believe, but the electric company that once routinely panned solar power as too expensive and inefficient is about to introduce a whole bunch of new solar initiatives for its customers and eventually market it all here under a brand name called SunSense.

What we think: Kill destructive water bill
Editorial
Orlando Sentinel
It's a tough slog getting water managers today to meet or even think about meeting their responsibility to safeguard Florida's water supply.

MORE SB 360 NEWS

Taxpayers will feel the cost of sprawl
By Charles Pattison
Tallahassee Democrat
This year's growth management bill, SB 360, was opposed by most of the leading newspapers and conservation, planning and advocacy organizations, including 1000 Friends of Florida, the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties. The governor signed the bill Monday afternoon, despite many requests to veto it.

Crist's environmental record hurt by growth legislation, critics say
By William March
Tampa Tribune
Reader poll: Is the governor still green?
Gov. Charlie Crist's long-standing reputation as an environmentalist could take a hit because of his signing this week of a controversial bill on growth management.

Gov. Crist changes his colors
By Mark Lane
Daytona Beach News-Jouranl
Gov. Charlie Crist has worked hard to get out from under his party's image as reflexively anti-environment. Until this week, it kind of worked.

Great news for developers, not so good to everyone else
By Ron Littlepage
Florida Times-Union
Legend has it that Juan Ponce de Leon came to Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth.

Home building and construction is to Florida as opium production is to Afghanistan
By Gimleteye
Eye On Miami
Opium production is 60 percent of the economy of Afghanistan.

Crist's environmental image takes a hit
By Beth Reinhard
Miami Herald
Gov. Charlie Crist waited until 5:05 p.m. tonight to quietly send out a press release saying he had signed a "growth management'' bill that environmentalists say will result in worsening sprawl.

Crist refuels the bulldozers
By Kenric Ward
TC Palm
Gov. Charlie Crist cleared the way for developers by signing Senate Bill 360. Watch out, Treasure Coast.

Governor Gridlock
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Charlie Crist just made it easier to pave over what's left of Florida.

Reckless rollback
Editorial
Florida Today
Brevard County residents, you've just been had. And you can thank Gov. Charlie Crist and Republicans in the state Legislature for guaranteeing that you'll get stuck with the bill for more urban sprawl and traffic gridlock when growth returns to Florida.

Gov. Charlie Crist made a bad call on growth limits
Editorial
Miami Herald
A new growth-management law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist this week broadly redefines ''dense urban land areas'' as land with less than one home per acre.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Gov. Crist signs SB 360, shows his true colors are anything but "green"

Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin, Miami Herald

Crist signs controversial growth bill
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee Democrat
Gov. Charlie Crist, a U.S. Senate candidate who frequently crosses the state for high-profile bill signing ceremonies, took a far different approach Monday when he signed a controversial growth management bill vehemently opposed by environmental groups.

Crist signs bill loosening controls on growth
By Paul Quinlan
Palm Beach Post
Related editorial: The governor can't hide
Gov. Charlie Crist bucked environmental groups and local governments Monday by signing a bill that development interests say will discourage urban sprawl and jump-start Florida's stalled building industry.

Crist signs growth-management bill (includes audio)
By Mitch E. Perry
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
As we reported last night, without ceremony Gov. Charlie Crist has signed Senate Bill 360, also known as the Community Renewal Act, into law.

Critics decry growth bill
Staff Report
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Gov. Charlie Crist signed a growth management bill Monday supported by business and development interests but opposed by environmentalists and local governments.

Crist's environmental image takes a hit
By Beth Reinhard
Miami Herald
Gov. Charlie Crist waited until 5:05 p.m. tonight to quietly send out a press release saying he had signed a "growth management'' bill that environmentalists say will result in worsening sprawl.

Crist refuels the bulldozers
By Kenric Ward
TC Palm
Gov. Charlie Crist cleared the way for developers by signing Senate Bill 360. Watch out, Treasure Coast.

Governor Gridlock
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
Gov. Charlie Crist just made it easier to pave over what's left of Florida.

Reckless rollback
Editorial
Florida Today
Brevard County residents, you've just been had. And you can thank Gov. Charlie Crist and Republicans in the state Legislature for guaranteeing that you'll get stuck with the bill for more urban sprawl and traffic gridlock when growth returns to Florida.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Help save Florida Forever

Note: Wildwood Preservation Society assisted Leon County in the acquisition of a $2.35 million dollar matching grant to conserve sensitive land including endangered wood stork foraging habitat in Fred George Basin. The grant was obtained via Florida Forever, the state's successful land conservation program. See the message below from Progress Florida and take action to save Florida Forever from shortsighted, unnecessary budget cuts. When taking action you will be asked for your zip code so the message will be sent to the appropriate lawmakers – you must be a Florida resident to participate. More background and info is at the Florida Forever Coalition website. Thank you!



Our sandy white beaches, magnificent springs, wetlands teeming with wildlife, these are the natural treasures that define our state. Unfortunately, Florida's flagship land conservation program that protects these gems, Florida Forever, is in serious trouble. If the legislature's budget is approved as currently written, our hallmark land conservation program will receive NO FUNDING.


We can't allow that to happen. Click here to contact your legislators in support of the Florida Forever program. Then, please forward this message to your friends and family.
Sprawling development has carved wildlife habitat into smaller and smaller pieces, divided by highways or paved over altogether for shopping malls and office parks -- threatening state symbols such as the Florida panther and the Florida black bear. The Florida Forever program has been a success story in the fight to protect Florida's remaining open spaces, protecting more than two million acres throughout the state.


A new poll released by The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land shows that 81% of Florida voters hold a favorable impression of land protection and 67% support continued funding of Florida Forever. Yet despite such overwhelming public support, the legislature is very close to suspending this critical program, and that's why we need your help right now.


Please take a moment and urge your representatives to continue funding Florida Forever. Then, please forward this message to your friends and family.




Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"