Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s Post

👏👏👏 Preserving and improving the management of our pastures and rangelands can help us in our goal to decrease the impacts of climate change. #ConservationIsClimateAction Learn more about the climate impact of land conservation here: https://lnkd.in/g3qqv9Q9 #NaturalClimateSolutions

Attorneys for the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation have just filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to intervene in a case that seeks to virtually eliminate wetlands’ federal protections, which were drastically narrowed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA. In this case, White v. EPA, a landowner is challenging the federal government’s definition of protected wetlands and advancing an interpretation that would write most wetlands out of the Clean Water Act—a move that could deprive the families, outdoor enthusiasts (including hunters and anglers), and communities who use and rely on wetlands the benefits of federal clean water protections. “A ruling adopting this extreme view could have devastating effects on waters in North Carolina and throughout the nation,” said Mark Sabath, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Wetlands are vital to help protect drinking water supplies, wildlife and fisheries, and our communities from flooding. If the wetlands along our coastal waters like the Albemarle Sound are developed and destroyed, communities will be wrecked by job loss, wildlife loss, and flooding.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e75nMURC 

Although Split Oak Forest spans Orange and Osceola counties, a good 45-minute drive for most Lake County residents, it is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to the future of conservation land in Florida. If Split Oak falls, no other designated conservation land in the state is safe from those seeking to line their own pockets at the expense of the public’s interest. Let me put it this way: How would you feel if I forced you from your home and moved your family to what is essentially a barren landfill with no infrastructure, no food and no clean water? And my only justification for this was, “But it’s more land than the land you had before!” That is what Osceola County is asking the threatened and endangered wildlife in Split Oak Forest to do in its effort to have a toll road cut through the nature preserve. Why does this matter for Florida residents in other counties? Up until now, if conservation land is still of “high ecological value,” then the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s job is to maintain its conservation status and protect its easements. If FWC releases its easements within Split Oak for the toll road, then there is now a legal precedent. Nothing will stop the same from happening anywhere else in Florida. Split Oak Forest was set aside 30 years ago by a contractual agreement between Orange and Osceola counties as mitigation land for the ongoing development around the forest. Since then, it has been managed with taxpayer dollars and is a natural wild preserve where visitors can enjoy walking nature trails. It also houses some of the rarest and most endangered habitats and wildlife species in central Florida. Split Oak Forest was intended to be kept as conservation land “in perpetuity,” as per the Florida State constitution, but Osceola County commissioners, Tavistock – a large development company – and the Central Florida Expressway Authority have decided it is prime real estate to drive a toll road through. They are seeking to extend the Osceola Parkway through the forest. (Continued in the comments) . Read here: https://lnkd.in/g9JT_xW2

Private landowners are responsible for the use and management of more than two-thirds of our nation’s land, including some of the most important fish and wildlife habitats in the United States. Every year, farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other landowners voluntarily participate in federal Farm Bill conservation programs designed to address some of the nation’s most pressing conservation issues. That’s why we’re offering up to $15 million in grant funding for projects that emphasize regenerative agriculture practices while providing important social and economic benefits to agricultural producers. Together, we can enhance wildlife habitat, soil health, water conservation and quality, and carbon storage on working lands. Learn more: https://loom.ly/nF_xY68 The Conservation Partners Program is a partnership between NFWF and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Cargill, The J.M. Smucker Co. and Nestle, with additional support from General Mills, Walmart and Sam's Club. 📷: A young female white-tailed deer in Kansas wheat. Photo by Darcy Daniels. #conservation #wildlife #deer #farm #agriculture

Texas Agricultural Land Trust's mission is “To #Conserve the #Texas #Heritage of #Agricultural lands, #WildlifeHabitats, and #NaturalResources,” but at its core, TALT’s work is built on the #Foundation of #LongTerm, #Trusting, mutually #Respectful #Relationships.

As advocates for environmental stewardship, we acknowledge the importance of seasonal species stipulations set by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). CPW seasonal stipulations for the peregrine falcon and WGFD seasonal stipulations for the ferruginous hawk will come to an end on July 31. From March 15 to July 31, CPW recommends no surface occupancy within a ½-mile radius of an active peregrine falcon nest, and  WGFD recommends a disturbance-free buffer of 1-mile around an active ferruginous hawk nest. At 2DOT Consulting, we have been actively involved in conducting surveys to identify any nesting raptors and uphold the stipulations put forth by these state agencies. What We Can Do For You: At 2DOT, we are committed to assisting clients in navigating wildlife regulations and integrating responsible practices into their operations. Here’s how we can collaborate: *Provide tailored environmental assessments and habitat management plans that mitigate potential impacts on sensitive species. *Offer guidance on compliance with seasonal species stipulations and wildlife protection regulations. 2DOT is ready to assist your team in determining the presence or absence of nesting raptors and help mitigate wildlife impacts! Together, we can uphold our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our natural world. Let's continue working towards a future where wildlife thrives in harmony with sustainable development practices. #WildlifeConservation #Sustainability #Biology #Environmental #Energy #Raptors #Wyoming #Colorado Written by: Madison Alsbach Photo Credit: Abigail Robinson

Fish are one of the indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems. This is one of the reasons we study the native trout in the Arroyo region of Greater Pasadena.

A few important benefits of wetlands: Flood control, improved water quality, and serving as home for 1/3 of the world's species at some point in their life cycle. Losing these ecosystems has outsize impact. Conservation groups and government professionals agree that stronger protections are needed for wetlands in the U.S. and abroad!

Like people, wildlife like salmon, sandhill cranes, beavers and many more species rely on California’s water, which has a problematic management history. Read our Q&A for World Water Day with Ashley Overhouse, our water policy advisor, to learn how California manages this critical resource and the impacts on threatened and endangered species. https://dfnd.us/3IN4Qwj

The Bureau of Land Management-Colorado just released a statewide plan for mitigating oil and gas impacts on migrating wildlife such as mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. It's the first statewide plan amendment the agency has ever done for migratory animals like this, but we certainly hope it's not the last. One thing that makes it more durable than your average rulemaking is the strong collaboration baked into the plan with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Dept, both from a science and data perspective as well as on the management side. We'll downplay the fact that this plan originated from a settlement agreement with the State, but nonetheless rises to the occasion in charting a positive new course for state-federal collaboration in connectivity conservation. #ProtectCOWildlife https://lnkd.in/g7fxFgat