Conservation In Florida: A Short
History
We often think
of conservation as being a modern enterprise, but the history
of environmental conservation in Florida goes back to the 1800s.
Most people then believed that humans had little effect on the
environment, and what effect they did have was likely to be positive.
However, there were many individuals
who bucked the trend and suggested that we should take care of
the areas precious natural resources. Many of these people were
ignored when they lived, but made predictions about our influence
on our surroundings that turned out to be true.
For example, Vermont congressman
George Marsh suggested in 1847 that deforestation was bad for
the land. These sentiments were echoed by others who urged better
management of the land.
Teddy Takes Charge
A couple of decades later the
writings and speeches of Henry David Thoreau led to wider public
support for preserving some parts of the environment. By the
turn of the 20th century, things were beginning to change.
With President Theodore Roosevelt
in charge, there were efforts to conserve bison and birds and
many national forests were created and extended. President Roosevelt
created bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges across the US.
And he was in charge when the US got its first wildlife preserve,
Pelican Island, in 1903.
Protecting The Everglades
Another milestone in Florida's
conservation efforts was the protection of the Everglades. Once
seen as just a swamp, perceptions changed after the publication
of a book by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1947.
Everglades: River of Grass was
a history of the area and it led to the awareness that this region
had a unique ecosystem that should be preserved. The publication
of the book ended a long campaign for the Everglades. Although
it had been declared a national park in 1934, it took 13 years
to get the funding needed to acquire the land. The 1.5 million
acre park we know today is only a part of a larger conservation
area, which in turn is only half the size of the historic Everglades
area.
Conservation On Hold
Not much happened in conservation
in Florida (or in the US) for the next decade or so, largely
thanks to the Second World War. It was not until the 1960s that
people began to think seriously about conservation once again.
This was the time when people were made aware of just how damaging
the chemicals we used were to our environment and laws were passed
to regulate use of these substances and to provide protection
for animals, birds and habitats. Some of the important national
laws included the Wilderness Act (1964), the Clean Air Act (1970)
and the Endangered Species Act (1973).
Florida's Conservation Resources
Florida now boasts an impressive
array of state conservation resources. The Department of Environmental
Protection incorporates a number of bodies responsible for different
aspects of the environment. The department manages Florida's
state parks, handles land acquisition and looks after trails.
One of its key programs is the
Florida Forever program, which handles environmental land acquisition,
restoration of environmental systems, water resource development
and much more. In addition to the Department of Environmental
Protection, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
manages the state's fish and wildlife resources.
Research And Education
The efforts of individuals and
groups continue to supplement state conservation efforts. Florida
boasts dozens of research or charitable organization that look
after different aspects of the environment. Some may care for
endangered species, such as sea turtles, birds or indigenous
animals. Others may study these species in research and protection
facilities and provide education to help others understand the
importance of preserving this ecological legacy.
RITMO!® FLORIDA LATIN TROPICAL THEME DESTINATIONS
Miami * Ft. Lauderdale * Boca Raton * West Palm Beach * Daytona Beach * Cocoa Beach * Boynton Beach * Key West
Orlando * Naples * Tampa Bay * Sarasota * Jacksonville * Melbourne * Coral Springs * Hollywood * St. Petersburg * Miami Beach
Sanibel * Marco Island * Deerfield Beach * Clearwater * Vero Beach * Jupiter * Stuart * Delray Beach * Ponte Vedra Beach
