Yesterday, Audubon of Florida, represented by Executive Director Eric Draper, joined our allies in the Florida Conservation Coalition on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee in urging elected officials, policy makers and candidates for office to protect and conserve Florida’s natural resources essential to the well-being and quality of life of the residents of this state and its long-term economic prosperity. The Florida Conservation Coalition is a non-partisan group of non-profit organizations and concerned citizens led by Senator Bob Graham, tow-term Florida governor and three-term U.S. Senator. Also speaking yesterday were Senator Paula Dockery, environmental hero Nathaniel Reed, IDEAS - UCF President Samantha Ruiz, Florida Wildlife Federation President Manly Fuller and Vice President/General Council Preston Robertson.
Audubon commends Senator Bob Graham's leadership and supports the Florida Conservation Coalition as way to bring Floridians together to advance and defend the policies and programs that protect our land and water. Over the last year, under the misleading banner of economic growth, there have been repeated efforts to weaken the environment laws and cut environment funds. There is no correlation between the state’s rate of employment recession and environmental laws and programs. The state’s robust growth in the previous decade occurred while those same laws and programs were in place. The 2011 session of the Florida Legislature resulted in curtailment of citizens’ rights to enforce environmental protection, major cuts to water management districts and no money for land conservation. Audubon will work with our partners to involve more people in the decisions that affect Florida’s environment.
We call on our members and the public to make sure the voice of conservation is heard.
“We want to stop the harm that’s being done right now to the environment then we can start talking about what we need to do to start fixing things,” said Eric Draper of Audubon of Florida.
