Clik here to view.
Big Cypress land deal goes through despite concerns
In their final meeting before all four members leave office, Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet voted Tuesday to approve the transfer of 29,412 acres of state land to the federal government as an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Governor skips Florida Forever rally, visits with Tea Party
Gov. Rick Scott skipped a rally for the Florida Forever conservation land-buying program but attended a nearby “Tea Party” rally on the opening day of the legislative session. Florida Forever was the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Senate budget chief wants land sales to pay for new purchases
The Senate’s budget chief says selling state land could help the Florida Forever land-buying program survive these lean budget times. A proposed Senate version of the 2011-12 state budget includes $308...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Florida environmentalists uneasy as legislative session enters second half
With the Legislative session more than half over, some environmentalists are saying the session already has been bad enough. But at least one veteran environmental lobbyist says the worst could be yet...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Session could have been worse but it was still bad, environmentalists say
The Florida legislative session went off track early Saturday, taking several bills with it that were supported by business and industry groups and opposed by environmentalists. But environmentalists...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nation’s largest land-buying program appears doomed by veto
With the stroke of a pen last month, Gov. Rick Scott turned Florida from a conservation land-buyer to a land seller. Florida had the largest land-buying program in the nation with more than 2 million...
View ArticleClik here to view.
State environmental chief questions land-buying program
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Team launches trek to promote Florida Wildlife Corridor
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cabinet members join group on expedition across Florida
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.,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wildlife expedition holds scientific value even if biologist has regrets
Biologist Joe Guthrie of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition. Photograph by Carlton Ward Jr / Carlton Ward Photography / CarltonWard.com. By BRUCE RITCHIE Floridaenvironments.com Biologist Joe...
View ArticleJust how permanent are those conservation easements?
By BRUCE RITCHIE Just how permanent is “perpetual” — when it comes to conservation easements? Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in November touted the benefits of those landowner agreements not to...
View ArticleSenate president says five-year land-buying work plan needed
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Sen. President Andy Gardiner said Thursday that a five-year planning process for land purchases and water projects may be a good idea following voter approval...
View ArticleGovernor provides Amendment 1 spending breakdown
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTS Gov. Rick Scott’s office on Thursday provided a breakdown of how the governor requests $757 million provided by Amendment 1 be spent in the 2015-16 state budget....
View ArticleWith Steverson reappointed to DEP, Senate prez says confirmation not “a...
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Gov. Rick Scott on Monday reappointed Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson along with 15 other agency heads following the Senate’s...
View ArticleNorthwest Florida could get $21 million for springs protection
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM MIDWAY — The Northwest Florida Water Management District is in line to receive more than $10 million in springs protection funding from the state budget and...
View Article
