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Troubling Projections Underscore Importance Of Land Preservation

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 23, 2008

It was only a year and a half ago that the smart growth group 1000 Friends of Florida and University of Florida researchers released a study presenting an ugly vision of Florida in 50 years - 7 million acres of rural and natural land lost to massive development and a population that had doubled to 36 million.

Now, scientists and experts from the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are following up on the "Florida 2060" report, looking at the effects on wildlife and habitat. And the predictions are equally shocking.

"Florida 2060: What's At Stake For Wildlife?", which is expected to be completed later this summer, paints a horribly bleak picture: If current development patterns continue, 2.3 million acres of black bear habitat will be lost - an area the size of the state of Vermont. This would cripple the species, which is already being squeezed by development.

In addition, 2.1 million acres of land where wild turkey roam will be transformed into subdivisions and other development, and 700,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat would be bulldozed over.

This possibility raises some alarming questions that the report's researchers and authors want the public and elected officials to think about:

How will humans' need for more drinking water affect animals and fish? How will state and local workers be able to conduct environmentally important controlled burns of preserved lands surrounded by development?

And how will wildlife react to encroaching development and the loss of their homes? In one instance, for example, the report predicts that interaction between humans and black bears will increase dramatically - 33,800 complaints by 2060, compared to just 1,334 in 2005.

Perhaps most important, though is this the way we want Florida to look like in 50 years? The answer should be a resounding no.

The FWC's report, as well as the study by UF and 1000 Friends of Florida, perfectly illustrates why it is important to preserve as much green space and environmentally sensitive areas as possible. The loss of these lands have profound effects on natural resources, wildlife, flood prevention, drinking water and other critical areas - and the state's natural beauty in general.

The report provides yet another reason to continue supporting state and local environmental lands acquisition programs.

The Legislature recently renewed the state program, Florida Forever, for another 10 years. Hillsborough County voters have the opportunity to extend the life of the county's 18-year-old program, which has preserved more than 45,000 acres, in November.

It's true that the economic downturn has slowed the pace of development in the Tampa Bay region and other areas of the state, but it won't last forever.

The lull provides a good opportunity for elected officials to evaluate development strategies to better protect the natural beauty that attracts many people to Florida in the first place. Otherwise, Florida will become a place that's not much to look at, much less live in.

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