By BRUCE RITCHIE A conservation photographer, biologist and filmmaker on Tuesday will begin a nearly 1,000-mile trek up the Florida peninsula to highlight the need for maintaining a habitat corridor through the area. Along the way, they expect to stay with ranch landowners and be joined by some conservation leaders and elected officials including possibly […]
Team launches trek to promote Florida Wildlife Corridor Read More »
(Editor’s note: See disclosure at end) By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com Author Cynthia Barnett of Gainesville says she traces the start of her focus on water issues to a St. Petersburg Times page 1A story written in 2003 that she says made her “insane.” Barnett is author of “Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis.” It’s an
Author’s vision of a “Blue Revolution” began with Florida water wars Read More »
BY BRUCE RITCHIE Floridaenvironments.com Race tracks and gas-guzzling hot-rods may seem to be the antithesis of environmentalism, but NASCAR officials are trying to change that viewpoint. NASCAR is big business in Florida with two of its top races being held in the state. The sport closes out its 2012 season on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR says it’s racing towards a green future Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE Floridaenvironments.com Representatives of environmental and hunting groups say they agree that now is not the time to talk about resuming hunts for Florida black bears. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Thursday released a draft plan for maintaining black bear populations. The proposal represents a success story, state officials said.
Environmentalists and hunter agree on no bear hunting now Read More »
While hundreds of journalists gathered in Miami for the Society of Environmental Journalists national conference, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was firing another shot across environmentalists’ bow. Scott wasn’t at the SEJ conference but his policies were the target of analysis, criticism and quips by various speakers and protesters outside. In the past most governors have
Barbs aimed at Florida governor during journalism conference Read More »
Some said they felt welcomed by the Society of Environmental Journalists, others felt marginalized by the organization. More than 100 protestors for varying causes held signs, beat drums and chanted Saturday at a “Rally for the Environment” in a park outside the International Hotel in Miami, site of SEJ’s national conference. Ana Campos of Fort
Protesters gather outside enviro journalism conference in Miami Read More »
BY BRUCE RITCHIE You won’t probably find a South Florida rainbow snake or a Florida fairy shrimp no matter how hard you look. Those species are gone forever, federal wildlife officials say. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service earlier this month declared both species to be extinct. That was just one of three actions
Feds reviewing plight of more than 100 species as two declared extinct Read More »
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection appear to be exercising more control over the state’s five water management districts, calling for statewide consistency while providing “one clear and consistent message.” But Tom Swihart, author of “Florida’s Water: A Fragile Resource in a Vulnerable State,” says Florida wouldn’t have been able to
Author seeks to slow damage to Florida’s water management system Read More »
E. Thom Rumberger was remembered Monday as a champion of the Everglades who was gracious and effective while also helping build the modern Republican Party in Florida. The 79-year-old general counsel of the Everglades Foundation died Sept. 7 from complications associated with diabetes. “The Everglades has lost its most important advocate,” W. L. “Bud” Kirk,
Rumberger remembered as tireless champion for Everglades Read More »
Some environmental groups may be in agreement with Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard that the state’s land-buying list needs closer scrutiny. Vinyard last week announced that $700 million was being cut from budgets of the state’s five water management districts. More than $200 million of the cuts were from the districts’ land
State environmental chief questions land-buying program Read More »
