Florida Native Plant Society Preserving Florida's Natural Heritage
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Florida Native Plant Society 2011 ANNUAL REPORT Preserving Florida’s Natural Heritage – Native Plant by Native Plant Community Heighten One’s Sense of Awareness M P “Of all the questions which can come I have always been drawn by the outdoors. Bad days and cranky moods are before this nation, short of the actual easily transformed into peace, calm, and quiet when one is enveloped by preservation of its existence in a great Florida’s nature. Exhilaration upon nding a rare plant, or one in spectacular ower, or the colorful bees that visit them, my awareness intensies as I rell war, there is none which compares in the well of my soul. Florida’s nature occupies such obvious respites as the grand functioning ecosystems of Everglades National Park, but also is present importance with the great central task in small parcels of conservation land surrounded by suburbia such as Pine Shore Park, a splendid hidden retreat close by. Aer experiencing them, of leaving this land even a beer land for we naturally want to support and promote the expansion of these native plant habitats. our descendants than it is for us.” We plant natives to restore what is so oen lost in typical urban seings, ~ eodore Roosevelt and we protect existing ora so that they are not lost to us. I myself have used native plants in an aempt to re-create native plant communities. I’ve re-created globally imperiled pine rockland as well as rockland hammock in order to bring about what is right, and provide wildlife a place to live, as well as creating my own hidden retreat. To the astonishment of my neighbors, my yard is full of wildlife activity, as Everglades Racers, Screech Owls, Silver Argiopes, Red Banded Wasp Moths, a zillion bueries, and so much more show up, now having a refuge that had not existed since the developers came 50 years ago. How pleasing it is to see things improve, rather than watch them disappear, which is too oen the case. T C Restoration of our native habitats begins with the native plants appropriate Message from the President ..........................2 to our areas. e continued protection of our remaining natural habitats is also critically important. Aer all, these are the refugia where our native Our Guiding Principles ..................................3 wildlife still survives. For these reasons I actively support the Florida Native Conservation and Advocacy Plant Society. Land Management Partners .....................4 Science and Policy ......................................5 ese pages illustrate some of the many Florida Native Plant Society Awards and Accolades achievements in 2011. Help us continue to preserve Florida’s natural heritage, native plant by native plant community. Research Grants, Landscape Awards ..........6 Palmeo Awards .........................................7 Best Regards, Education and Outreach ................................7 Chapters ............................................................8 Working on the Ground ................................9 Steven W. Woodmansee 2011 Conference ...........................................10 President, Florida Native Plant Society Financial Summary .......................................11 FNPS Partnerships .......................................12 Cover photo: e St. John’s River swells with fall rains. e marshes of the Puzzle Lakes region provide important habitat for numerous species of sh and bird life. Photo by Carlton Ward, Jr. – CarltonWard.com; FloridaWildlifeCorridor.org 2 Our Guiding Principles e Florida Native Plant Society has been protecting Florida’s natural heritage for 32 years. With a reputation for responsible stewardship, the Society promotes sustained care of native habitats for today and for future generations. Grounded in science, the Society provides information and takes action to protect Florida’s native plants and natural communities upon which our wildlife depends. e Society’s reputation springs from the highest ethical standards and its credibility is based on a track record of commitment to public trust. M e Florida Native Plant Society promotes the preservation, conservation, and restoration of our native plants and native plant communities. V e Florida Native Plant Society preserves the state’s natural heritage. From the Panhandle to the Keys, native plant communities are being restored, created, and preserved through advocacy, leadership, and the dedication of our membership. rough education and programming, we ensure a future that sustains ecosystem health. Below: Cypress stand (Richard Brownscombe) T C Message from the President ..........................2 Our Guiding Principles ..................................3 Conservation and Advocacy Land Management Partners .....................4 Science and Policy ......................................5 Awards and Accolades Research Grants, Landscape Awards ..........6 Palmeo Awards .........................................7 Education and Outreach ................................7 Chapters ............................................................8 Working on the Ground ................................9 2011 Conference ...........................................10 Financial Summary .......................................11 FNPS Partnerships .......................................12 3 Conservation and Advocacy e Society pays aention to the management of public lands. is is the main key to protecting our native ora. L M P In 2011, the Society once again provided the brain trust of survey, and protect native species and provide land managers its members to the benet of state lands. Our Land Manage- with biological and ecological knowledge. Examples include: ment Partners accomplished an amazing feat by participating in 100% of the state mandated Florida Department of Envi- • Members participated in stakeholder groups with both ronmental Protection’s land management reviews. Over 60 the St. John’s River Water Management District and the experts from our membership were a part of this massive eort Southwest Florida Water Management District. that took place at various locations from the Panhandle to the • The Land Management Partner Chair provided input on Everglades. Lands being reviewed included Florida State Parks, a multiuse trail system that will go through Seabranch and Florida Wildlife Management Areas, and Florida State Forests. Savannas State Parks. • Over 30,000 acres of critical habitat for the Florida panther, With 3.8 million acres of conservation lands, it is imperative black bear, wood stork, crested caracara, gopher tortoise, that the Society be involved in state land management reviews, snail kite, American swallow-tailed kite, and sandhill crane new and updated management plans, and amendments to exist- in Hendry County were reviewed by members of the ing plans. Public participation is the only way to assure that our Coccoloba Chapter on behalf of the Florida Forest Service state lands are being managed properly and the native ora and and the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. fauna protected. Whether at the statewide level or the chapter level, members Below: Members of the Land Management Review team at continued to work with local and regional agencies to monitor, St. Sebastian River Preserve State park (Vince Lamb) 4 4 Under re again, 2011 was a challenging year in the legislature, in the water management districts, and in county and city commissions throughout the State. S P Lighting up the action alert buon, the Florida Native Plant Society rallied its members and resources on several policy issues in 2011. From weighing in on the Water Management District’s aempts to dispose of surplus lands in the Suwannee River WMD to proposed expansions of hunting opportunities within sensitive ecosystems, the Society continued to use science to drive policy decisions. e Society’s science-driven approach is always present, but sometimes what’s really needed is plain common sense. Unfortunately, that was not on display when two Florida lawmakers led the Jack Nicklaus Golf Trail bill, requiring the Division of Recreation and Parks to hire Jack Nicklaus to build golf courses in state parks in every region of the state. e plan included an option for hotels on the park sites, and exempted the projects from all local zoning and development rules. e leadership of the Florida Native Plant Society sent a leer of objection to the Acquisition and Restoration Council and initi- ated a priority Action-Alert notice to its members who, in addition to other concerned Florida citizens, made it their business to contact their elected representatives on this issue. e bill failed. Whether it was a local or statewide issue, members were active serving the public good and protecting Florida’s native plants and natural communities from special interests. Examples include: • The Society stood up for enforcement when the State of Florida aempted to thwart implementation of the EPA’s water quality regulations. • The Society supported the proposed addition of an internal directive to the Forest Service Manual requiring the development of invasive species control plans for national forests. • The Society encouraged less frequent roadside mowing in Jackson County to promote growth of wildowers. “Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment.” – Rene Dubos Right: Blanketower and common buckeye at PEAR Park; sandhills in bloom (Peg Urban) 5 Awards and Accolades e Florida Native Plant Society continues to promote excellence in conservation, science, landscaping, and volunteer service through