By BRUCE RITCHIE A team of conservationists on a 1,000-mile expedition across Florida was joined by two Cabinet officials last week just past midway on their trek. Photographer Carlton Ward Jr., biologist Joe Guthrie and filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus began their journey on Jan. 9 from Florida Bay at the tip of Everglades National Park. They […]
Cabinet members join group on expedition across Florida Read More »
BY BRUCE RITCHIE There’s new opposition to bills that would repeal a state septic tank inspection requirement: A Tallahassee official told senators this week that the bill could make it more difficult to restore Wakulla Springs. The Legislature in 2010 adopted a statewide septic tank inspection requirement that supporters said would protect springs and groundwater.
Septic tanks bill will hurt Wakulla Springs, Tallahassee official says Read More »
By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com After scoring victories last week, environmental group lobbyists at the Florida Capitol say there is plenty more work to do during the 2012 legislative session. Environmental groups dropped their opposition on Tuesday to HB 503 dealing with environmental permitting and HB 639 dealing with reclaimed water after they were amended to
Florida environmentalists say there are more bills to work on Read More »
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 »
