December 15, 2011
The Florida Conservation Coalition, a non-partisan group dedicated to protecting Florida's land and water resources for the future, held a kick-off press conference on November 30. Speakers included Bob Graham and Nat Reed. For coverage of the event and to learn more about the coalition, visit the web site
and read
The Current article.
Florida Forever
Despite Florida once again facing a budget shortfall, Gov. Rick Scott recommended $15 million in funding for Florida Forever and $40 million for Everglades restoration. While the proposed Florida Forever funding is far short of historical levels, it will allow the programs to continue and to focus on priority environmental lands during a time of low real estate prices. The Current article provides additional details.
At the November 15 Cabinet meeting, Clay Smallwood, Director of the FDEP Division of State Lands, gave a briefing on Florida's conservation land acquisition. In his presentation, Smallwood suggested future Florida Forever land acquisition focus on projects that help with clean water, economic drivers, military land buffers, and tourism. Tools that he mentioned to accomplish this included partnerships, more use of conservation easements, and focusing on critical purchases. Smallwood reported that a total of $2.97 billion has been appropriated for all Florida Forever programs, with $2.85 billion expended as of September 30, 2011. $62.8 million is committed to approved projects. The balance is $63.8 million for all Florida Forever programs. FDEP plans to present a conservation lands management overview to the Cabinet in the near future.
The Legacy Institute for Nature and Culture (LINC)
has produced ts latest conservation photography calendar: Florida Forever. The 2012 calendar is a collaborative work featuring 12 of the state’s leading nature photographers focused on a selection of Florida’s most vulnerable but spectacular landscapes. Four former Florida Governors – Rubin Askew, Bob Martinez, Bob Graham and Jeb Bush – share their views in the calendar on the need for Florida Forever and safeguarding priority lands from development.
Florida Forever - Acquisition and Restoration Council
At its December 9th meeting, the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) unanimously voted to add the West Bay project to the Florida Forever Acquisition List. Located in Bay County, West Bay is part of one of the most diverse estuarine ecosystems in North America. The project offers the unusual opportunity to protect an almost undeveloped estuary in Florida. Proposed by Bay County through the West Bay Preservation Advisory Committee, the project received strong support from numerous organizations, including Florida Wildlife Federation and 1000 Friends of Florida. Naval Support Activity Panama City spoke in favor of the project - the Navy uses the West Bay waters for training purposes, and the absence of development and lighting on the land provides enhanced training opportunities. Muller and Associates prepared the application and coordinated the presentation to ARC.
ARC re-ranked all projects on the Florida Forever Acquisition List. The list has six categories, and projects are ranked within each category. For the Division of State Lands acquisition workplan, each category is then divided into high, medium and low priority groups. ARC's recommended Florida Forever Priority List will go to the Board of Trustees for approval in 2012. Included with the list is ARC's voting sheet showing the rank assigned by each Council member. The Florida Keys Ecosystem was among the projects ranked number one in its category. Boot Key, a critical component of the Eastern Flyway for migrating raptors and part of the Florida Keys Ecosystem project, was recently awarded a grant that provides matching funds for Florida Forever acquisition. Muller and Associates prepared the successful grant application with the City of Marathon and DEP's Coastal Management Program.
During the last two and a half years, staff of the Division of State Lands and other agencies have re-evaluated projects on the Florida Forever/Board of Trustees land acquisition list. More than 108,000 acres with a tax-assessed value of almost $6 billion have been removed from projects, primarily due to development since the projects were added to the state's conservation land acquisition list.
The 2011 ARC calendar is at the bottom of this page. The ARC calendar, agendas, and meeting summaries are available at dep.state.fl.us/lands/arc_calendar.htm.
Florida Communities Trust
The Florida Communities Trust (FCT) Governing Board held its project ranking meeting for applications to the Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Program's on August 25th. The Trust received a total of 57 applications from communities across the state requesting more than $102 million in Florida Forever funds to acquire 4,700 acres for parks and conservation lands. In addition, the local communities committed more than $93 million in local matching funds.
Eight projects from communities throughout the state providing more than $20 million in matching funds were selected to receive a combined total of $17.6 million in Florida Forever funds for their land. Visit the FCT news page for additional information and a list of the projects.
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration - Everglades
The Everglades Foundation is hosting a Water Supply Summit in Tallahassee on January 17, 18, 2012. Government officials, business leaders and concerned Floridians will discuss the growing water supply crisis and how Everglades Restoration is the key to solving it. Information and registration are available at the summit web page.
The process continues to evaluate a proposed new national wildlife refuge, the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, part of the Greater Everglades Initiative. The refuge is envisioned as 50,000 acres acquired in fee simple, and 100,000 acres protected through conservation easements, leases, mitigation banks and cooperative agreements. The Draft Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment are available to download.
The new refuge will preserve the area's ranching heritage while conserving the headwaters of the Everglades by protecting and improving water quality north of Lake Okeechobee, restoring wetlands, and connecting existing conservation lands and important wildlife corridors. It will also protect and restore the habitat of imperiled species such as the Florida panther, Florida black bear, whooping crane, Everglades snail kite and the Eastern indigo snake.
Public scoping meetings were an important part of the process. For more information on this proposal and to view a map of the study area, please visit www.fws.gov/southeast/greatereverglades/.
The 2008-2010 South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Strategy and Biennial Report is available for download. This intergovernmental task force was authorized by Congress in 1996 to provide
long-term Everglades restoration strategic coordination and incorporation of new information and opportunities over the multi-decade restoration initiative. The Task Force organizes and tracks over 200 programs and projects.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 (Section 601) and the Programmatic Regulations (2003) require the secretaries of the Army and the Interior to jointly submit a report to Congress on the progress of CERP implementation every five years. The report notes accomplishments in areas that include construction, outreach activities, new science and funding for that five-year period and what is anticipated over the next five years. The 2010 Report to Congress for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) has been delivered to Congress and is now
available. The report details the collaborative effort of participating agencies and their combined commitment to improve the Everglades ecosystem.
The South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force’s Working Group is hosting a series of workshops to engage the public in the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP). The CEPP will incorporate updated science and technical information gained over the last decade to prepare the recommended plan for congressional authorization of the next generation of CERP components. The goal is to deliver within two years finalized plans for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades ready for congressional authorization as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Additional information is available at the
CEPP web page.
Ocean and Coastal
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force has released its final strategy (3.2 MB) for long term ecosystem restoration for the Gulf Coast. The Task Force’s goals for the Gulf Coast restoration effort are: Restore and conserve habitat, Restore water quality, Replenish and protect living coastal and marine resources, and Enhance community resilience. The strategy addresses major actions recommended to accomplish each goal.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service recently announced its Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI), designed to help producers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas improve water quality and ensure sustainable production of food and fiber. GoMI will deliver up to $50 million in financial and easement assistance over 3 years in 16 priority watersheds. Assistance will help producers apply sustainable agricultural and wildlife habitat management systems that maintain agricultural productivity; avoid, control, and trap nutrient runoff; and reduce sediment transport. GoMI also will reduce current over-use of water resources and prevent saltwater from entering the habitats of many threatened and endangered species. In Florida, the projects are in the Escambia River Basin and the Middle Suwannee River Basin. For more information, visit the Gulf of Mexico Initiative website.
The Inter-American Seas Research Consortium, a new research and education initiative developing at FSU, held a kick-off symposium in Tallahasessee, FL on December 8, 2011. This consortium addresses the confluence of economic, cultural, and ecological problems of the Inter-American Seas (including the large marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the southeast U.S. Continental Shelf) that derive from the region's physical and social connectivity. This symposium was devoted to exploring the relevant "hot topic" research areas within each of the institute's three theme areas: Coastal and Marine Science; Societies, Culture, and Connections; Law, Risk, and Governance.For more information, visit marinelab.fsu.edu/isrc/.
On November 16, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved to prohibit the harvest of tiger sharks and three species of hammerheads from state waters in an effort to further protect these top predators that rely on Florida waters to survive. Florida waters offer essential habitat for young sharks, which is important for species such as the slow-to-reproduce tiger shark, which takes about 15 years to reach maturity.
Other Florida News
The Florida Natural Areas Inventory has published the Atlas of Florida’s Natural Heritage: Biodiversity, Landscapes, Stewardship, and Opportunities. Addressing the elements of biodiversity, biodiversity conservation, and notable natural areas in Florida, the atlas is intended to inspire, educate, and raise awareness of and the interest in biodiversity and conservation issues. The Inventory recently made available maps of conservation lands in Florida and Florida Forever projects for download in Google Earth versions (kmz files).
1000 Friends of Florida is now accepting nominations for the 2012 Better Community Awards. Each year 1000 Friends honors citizens, organizations, communities and projects that make Florida a smarter, more sustainable place to live. Nominations are due by January 31, 2012. Nomination forms and additional information are available at 1000 Friends.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently enhanced the Florida Springs website. New features include interactive maps to help residents and visitors locate springs, and expanded content highlighting the amazing qualities of Florida's springs. The website also includes an online expedition featuring the stories of journalists and scientists who followed the journey of water through the Floridan aquifer.
Find out what fish and wildlife managers are doing to help wildlife adapt to potential climate change impacts. Measure your carbon footprint. Tap into age-appropriate climate change lessons. These features and more can be found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) new website, MyFWC.com/ClimateChange. The website is dedicated to educating the public about the impacts of climate change to the state’s fish and wildlife resources and how the agency is addressing those impacts.
Other News
Micronesia has established a huge shark sanctuary, banning shark fishing in an area about two-thirds the size of the continental U.S. The more than 2 million square mile sanctuary was established to counter the decline due to overfishing, and in the hopes to boost dive tourism. Economic studies suggest a single shark can be worth more than $1 million to a local tourism spot. For more on this remarkable action, see the NPR story. This designation follows the Bahamian government's decision to ban all commercial sharkfishing in the country's waters, more than 200,000 square miles. The Pew Environment Group played a significant role in encouraging both of these actions.
The Digital Coast provides the information needed by those who want to conserve and protect coastal communities and natural resources. Developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center, the Digital Coast also provides the tools, training, and information needed to turn these data into the information most needed by coastal resource management professionals. The tool is used to address timely coastal issues, including land use, coastal conservation, hazards, marine spatial planning, and climate change. One of the goals behind the creation of the Digital Coast was to unify groups that might not otherwise work together. This partnership network is building not only a website, but also a strong collaboration of coastal professionals intent on addressing coastal resource management needs. Website content is provided by numerous organizations, but all must meet the site’s quality and applicability standards.
The U.S. Department of Interior will conduct reviews to determine whether 374 water-dependent species in the Southeast deserve protection under the Endangered Species Act. The decision, known as a 90-day finding, comes a year and a half after a coalition of environmental groups petitioned the agency to offer federal protections for 404 aquatic species, citing threats from dams, water diversions and logging, farming and wetlands development. Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service said it will initiate a more thorough status review to determine whether any, or all, of the species merit a listing as threatened or endangered. For more information, see the NY Times article.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a new publication highlighting the success of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) over its 20-year history. According to the report, more than half of all wetland acres in the continental United States have been lost. In some states, this number is as high as 90 percent. Given that 70 percent of wetlands are on private lands, farmers and other private landowners play a central role in conserving those that remain. Over the WRP's 20 years, more than 11,000 private landowners have enrolled 2.3 million acres in the WRP in a voluntary effort to integrate wetland restoration into working landscapes.
The State of the Birds 2011 Public Lands and Waters provides the nation’s first assessment of the distribution of birds on public lands and helps public agencies identify which species have significant potential for conservation in each habitat. The report concludes that America’s public lands and waters, ranging from national wildlife refuges to national parks to national forests, offer significant opportunities to halt or reverse the decline of many species. More than 1,000 bird species inhabit the U.S., 251 of which are federally threatened, endangered, or of conservation concern. The report provides a scientific tool to help public agencies identify the most significant conservation opportunities in each habitat.
The subsurface of Earth contains life at depths previously thought impossible. Scientists have discovered an animal, a new species of ringworm, a mile below the Earth's surface. Twenty years ago, scientists thought this area of extreme pressure, high temperatures and few nutrients could not support any life. The discovery of this new roundworm species that feeds on subsurface bacteria is another example of the ability of life to exist in extreme environments. Read the
Wired Science story about this subsurface animal, and a related story on the world's first one-organism ecosystem, discovered in an African gold mine.
Every year, American Rivers generates a list of America's Most Endangered Rivers. Ten rivers are selected each year for inclusion on the list, not because they are the most polluted, but rather because they are facing a turning point in the coming year that could negatively impact the river into the future. View the map and list of the 2011 rivers.
The UK's parks, lakes, forests and wildlife are worth billions of pounds to the economy, according to a major report. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA) is the first analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the benefits it provides to society and continuing economic prosperity. The report says the problem arises largely because currently, only material products such as food carry a pricetag in the market. By calculating the value of less tangible factors such as clean air, clean water and natural flood defences, it hopes to rebalance the equation. Read more in the BBC article and download the report. Also peruse the Boston Globe article that describes other efforts to define the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Oxford University Press is making a conservation biology textbook by some of the world's most prominent ecologists and conservation biologists available as free download. Conservation Biology for All provides cutting-edge but basic conservation science to a global readership. A series of authoritative chapters have been written by the top names in conservation biology with the principal aim of disseminating cutting-edge conservation knowledge as widely as possible.
Scientists funded by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen have developed a $55 million computerized atlas of the human brain, offering the first interactive research guide to the anatomy and genes that animate the mind.
A project of the Seattle-based Allen Institute for Brain Science, the online atlas, www.brain-map.org, offers researchers a powerful new tool to understand where and how genes are at work in the brain. That could help them find new clues to conditions rooted in the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism and mental-health disorders like depression. The
Wall Street Journal article
provides additional details.
More than 4,000 National Academies Press PDFs are now available to download for free. The institutions represented by the National Academies Press are unique in that they attract the nation’s leading experts in every field to serve on their award-wining panels and committees. Like no other collection of organizations, the Academies enlist the nation’s foremost scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts to address the scientific and technical aspects of society’s most pressing problems. The results of their work are authoritative and independent studies published by the National Academies Press. Visit the National Academies Press homepage to access the publications.
The track and information of every tropical cyclone anywhere in the world over the past 168 years is now available. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center recently developed the Historical Hurricane Tracks site, a search tool and hurricane track viewer. It taps a database of tropical systems from 1842 through 2010, and can display location, wind speed and other information and draw the track of any tropical cyclone, from tropical depressions to tropical storms and hurricanes, a total of more than 6,000 systems.
See amazing wildlife photographs - the 2011 National Wildlife Photo Contest Winners Gallery - chosen from nearly 27,000 entries.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Muller and Associates tracks a
variety of funding opportunities available to local governments and
not-for-profit groups. If you would
like assistance in preparing an application, please contact Muller and Associates.
POSITIONS
Visit The Wildlife Society Career Center, Environmental Career Opportunities and Environmental Jobs and Careers to find out about positions.
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