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Interests
General
The Everglades Trust is committed to keeping Florida's water flowing clean and safe for nature and people.
Visit our website for more information: http://www.Evergladestrust.org
Purpose & Commitment
To achieve a clean, safe water supply for the natural systems that feed the Everglades, which, in turn, provides clean, safe and inexpensive potable water for South Florida.
To ensure Everglades restoration is based on sound science, not driven by special political interests.
To seek full funding to carry out restoration expeditiously, as set out in the Everglades Restoration Plan.Music
"Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world, Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" ~Margaret Mead
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..Why You should CARE!..
The Everglades ecosystem is a major contributor to Florida yet agricultural pollution kills 2-9 acres a day and could lead to the loss of a $20 billion tourism industry, more than 365,000 jobs, and the only source of safe clean drinking water for South Florida.
Economic Contributions:
*Attracts millions of visitors each year including commercial and recreational fishermen, school groups and other park visitors.
*Ecosystem services provided by the Everglades are $82 million annually (FAU economic report)
*In 2007, An estimated $101 million tourists visited the Everglades and spent $76.2 billion dollars. (FAU economic report)
*Total number of jobs created by Everglades tourism was 17,799 and labor earnings in the state were increased by $561 million. (FAU economic report)
*Provides an estuarine complex in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys supporting the state’s sport and commercial fishing industry.
*It's estuaries and coasts support 43% of population, 40% of employment and 49% of national output. (FAU report)
*In Florida alone, Estuaries generate 76% of Florida's employment and 78% of Florida's GDP. (FAU report)
*Fifth largest commercial fishery in the United States.
Environmental Contributions
*Encompasses an ecosystem spanning four million acres in South Florida.
*Supports the largest strand of protected sawgrass prairie on the continent.
*Within its boundaries are four national parks, twelve national wildlife refuges, the first ever preserve, two national marine sanctuaries, ten state aquatic preserves, twenty state parks, and the only living coral reef in the continental US.
*The coral reef is also the third longest coral barrier reef in the world.
*Serves as a crucial water recharge area for South Florida via the Biscayne Bay aquifer.
*Biscayne Bay aquifer is the principal water source for more than 3 million people and is one of the most productive aquifers in the world.
*Provides a sanctuary to 68 threatened and endangered species.
*Is home to millions of migratory birds.
Educational Contributions
*Introduces visitors to unique plant and animal life.
*Promotes international interest. (One visitor summer study shows that 46 percent of tourists in 2007 were international travelers from 21 different countries. (Everglades National Park Visitor Services Report).
*Provides a variety of educational programs such as on-site day trips. Nearly 8,000 students from South Florida counties made such trips. More than 2,500 residents of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Collier counties participated in 32 such programs providing three-day camping trips into the park. (FY 2000).
Blurbs
About me:
..Accomplishments..Through grassroots support and a network of citizen action teams, the Trust, for more than a decade, has been fighting, for government action and adequate funding for restoration.
Highlights of the Trust's accomplishments.
Organized a "mini-summit" of all federal and state agencies in September 1992 to “jump start” restoration.
Served as catalyst for a General Accounting Office (GAO) economic report on the value of the Everglades (1995).
Played a key role in the formulation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan known as CERP (1992-1996).
Helped organize several Congressional subcommittee hearings in Florida (1995, 2000).
Was the driving force in the passage of Restoring the Everglades, an American Legacy Act (REAL), the implementing legislation for CERP, in the U.S. Senate (vote: 81/1 on 9/25/2000) and the U.S. House (vote: 394/14 on 10/19/2000.) The bill was signed by the President in December 2000.
Persuaded Florida officials, in 2001, to commit $2 billion over ten years to CERP restoration.
Killed plans for a commercial airport at Homestead Air Base (2001).
Ensured adoption of the scientifically sound water quality phosphorus standard of 10 parts per billion by the State of Florida (2003).
Secured more than $2billion in federal funding for Everglades CERP. ....
Who I'd like to meet:
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