Stand Up For Wilderness And Wildlife In South Florida!

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Action Alert on the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Lands and the Florida panther.The National Park Service has released its 'preferred alternative' for the 146,000 acre Addition Lands (about 50 minutes west of Ft. Lauderdale on I-75). Public meetings (and wilderness hearings) will be held next week in Miami, Everglades City and Naples. Comments can also be sent in via email until September 30th (see below - but do try to get it done sooner). All meetings will begin at 4 PM with information. At 6 PM a formal 'wilderness hearing' will open and members of the public will be invited to speak and/or present written statements on the topic. Come when you can. Needless to say, with so little land left in south Florida that would qualify as 'wilderness' this is an extremely important (and unusual)

event.The Sierra Club supports 'Alternative F' - all wilderness eligible lands be proposed as wilderness and no use of recreational motor vehicles in the Addition. Article in the Sun-Sentinel which examines the story from both sides is here:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-ybBtmc5xHBqSk%404496689-iincEkKJHrAsIPhotos of a recent Broward Sierra swampwalk to the Addition Lands are here:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-yTydC1wWbvDsI%404496690-G.kO9eeyvnN8ULocations for meetings and hearings are as follows. Again, all meetings will begin at 4 PM and the wilderness hearing will begin at 6 PM.Monday, August 10, 2009Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center500 SW 177th Ave.Miami, FloridaTuesday, August 11, 2009Edison State College7007 Lely

Cultural Pkwy.Naples, FloridaWednesday, August 12, 2009Everglades City Community Center205 Buckner Ave.Everglades City, FloridaA number of us will be carpooling from Broward for the meeting on Monday in Miami (3:30 PM meetup time). Please let me know via email if you want to join and I will send you the meetup location. I have tried hard to get the National Park Service to provide a meeting for Broward but was not successful.If you can't make it to one of the meetings (and most will not), written comments are being accepted (September 30th deadline) here:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-4OrbRRghHDK46%404496691-2gw9G2qcy9pMwComments submitted by snail mail can be submitted at the address provided at this website:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-wRH1S7sOrLlBQ%404496692-tvQsKPENamHE2Thanks for your help. Much more information about the National Park Service's plan and the Sierra Club's position are presented in the email which follows.Matt SchwartzEverglades Chair and Outings LeaderBroward Group of the Sierra ClubCo-ChairSierra Club Committee on National Parks and WildernessScroll down to continue:Dear Friends,Last week an action alert went out on a planned powerline grid across Everglades National Park. Many of you responded immediately and wrote to the National Park Service to express your heartfelt feelings about the impacts of this proposed action. Your voices were heard and your help was greatly appreciated. We will keep you informed as to how the project unfolds.Sadly,

there is more bad news on the horizon for south Florida's remaining wildlands.In a decision that has baffled many, the National Park Service (NPS) is now recommending that the 146,000 acre Addition Lands of Big Cypress National Preserve (75% of which has been judged to be 'wilderness eligible') be opened to 140 miles of off-road vehicle (ORV) trails and that ORV access points and parking lots be constructed directly off I-75. What is most puzzling about this decision, is that in their release of their 'preferred alternative' the NPS actually acknowledges the damage this action will have on the preserve's natural resources -"The key impacts of implementing the preferred alternative would include moderate, long-term, adverse, and mostly localized impacts on surface water flow; long-term, moderate, adverse and potentially Addition-wide impacts on exotic/nonnative plants; long-term, moderate, adverse and mostly localized impacts on

(likely to adversely affect) the Florida panther; long-term, minor to moderate, adverse and mostly localized impacts on (likely to adversely affect) the red-cockaded woodpecker; long-term, minor to moderate, adverse and mostly localized impacts on major game species"Full draft plan is here: (but have patience - it's a 6 part document and download)http://m1e.net/c?74588643-lXm7/DjhwGYcc%404496693-2RLB3ZUxldTe%2eThese environmental impacts to one of the most pristine sections of south Florida are supposed be compensated for by the 'benefits' of allowing access for up to 700 ORV owners. (This number is far less than 1 percent of all off-road vehicle owners in Florida. Even if NPS succeeds in opening this land up to motor vehicles and causing all kinds of environmental harm to the preserve, 99.99 percent of Florida ORV owners will still be

'locked out' of the Addition Lands. Those that attend the public meetings will no doubt hear that expression - locked out - used often.)See Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Statistics on off-road vehicles here:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-xhHxRUIAnPt5A%404496694-6i6DEGR5zEubMWhile the Sierra Club is extremely concerned about the introduction of ORVs to the Addition Lands based on the documented negative impacts they have had on soils (compaction and oxidation); vegetation (destruction of plants and plant roots); the spread of invasive plant species (e.g. Brazilian pepper); changes in hydrology (due to tire ruts that channel water and can be several feet deep); and the ability of the many non-motorized users to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the Addition in their undisturbed state, there is one concern which towers

above all others.For Florida's critically endangered state animal, the Florida panther, the current decision on the part of the National Park Service could not be worse. If you have a few minutes, you may want to take a look at this video from our friends at Big Cat Rescue to understand the current plight of the Florida panther in its remaining habitat:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-NjMB6lFxxzwQU%404496695-FT1ImCd0qC5JwAnd another 'typical' news story from a few days ago - in an area just west of the preserve:http://m1e.net/c?74588643-1q0oiuS8rcazs%404496696-e3OHYi9PGpfR%2eAlthough close to the south Florida metropolitan area, the Addition Lands has long been known to be a hotspot for panthers due to its miles of undisturbed habitat, vegetative cover and

adequate prey. It literally lights up on telemetry maps of collared panthers. As the NPS draft plan itself puts it:"In general, panther population centers appear to indicate a preference toward large, remote tracts with adequate prey, cover, and reduced levels of human disturbance."And here is the NPS, in the very same document, recommending the implementation of a management plan which will make these lands fragmented and less remote, remove vegetative cover and prey (feral hogs and white tail deer - Big Cypress has the longest hunting seasons in the entire state), and greatly increase levels of human disturbance.At least two studies have documented the fact that panthers leave areas in the preserve when they are utilized for hunting on off-road vehicles. One study still considered 'best available science' by the US Fish and Wildlife Service found a reduction in panther use of from 30 to 40 percent in an area

right next door to the Addition Lands (Bear Island). Unfortunately, in dealing with the National Park Service, one sadly learns that rather than dealing with a single agency with a uniform point of view, the public is often dealing with an agency that is literally at war with itself. When it first looked at the possibility of ORVs entering the Addition Lands directly off I-75 in 1994, the National Park Service wisely came to the following conclusion:"The odds for the longterm survival of the Florida panther in the wild are not good. The human population in the region continues to increase, resulting in urban growth and expansion of the regional highway network into former panther habitat. The demand and use of panther habitat for outdoor recreation has also increased and will continue to do so.ConclusionIt is the determination of the National Park Service that the proposed action may affect the Florida panther

and its habitat. Any action that decreases the wilderness qualities of the Everglades region impacts this species. The existing threats to the panther are interrelated and cannot be separated. The primary threat to the Florida panther has been human encroachment into panther habitat."With new commercial developments being pushed through on private lands throughout the panther's remaining habitat (and much more about that in future emails), the 80 to 100 remaining panthers (and the many other plants and animals which depend upon that same habitat) cannot afford the degradation of such an important piece of land required to avoid extinction.How you can help.There are two ways to involve yourself in this process. First of all, attend one of the three public meetings which are scheduled for next week. Although the Addition Lands border on Broward County and are mainly utilized by numerous groups and individuals from

Broward (e.g. Broward Sierra, Broward Audubon, Green League of Broward County, Broward County Environmental Meetup Group, Broward Native Plant Association, Broward Mosaic, South Florida Amateur Astronomical Ass. and the Happy Hoofers Chapter of the Florida Trail Ass. whose dedicated members maintain the Florida Trail through the Addition Lands for the quiet enjoyment of all), the NPS has decided NOT to hold a meeting in Broward. Repeated requests to NPS to add a meeting have been turned down. To all Broward readers - sorry. I tried.Second way to participate is by submitting written comments. Whether you live in south Florida or not, Big Cypress is considered perhaps the most biodiverse piece of land in the entire continental United States and belongs to all of us. The Addition Lands is the very best of it. Comment form is here -http://m1e.net/c?74588643-Ecp1VQbfC0Bp2%404496697-TgKqxOBATOMj6All of the concerns raised above would be adequately dealt with by 'Alternative F.' This alternative calls for all wilderness eligible land in the Addition (109,000 acres) be made 'proposed wilderness' and submitted to the president for his signature and transmittal to congress for a wilderness bill. It would also prohibit all motorized recreation in any part of the Addition Lands to protect the entire area.While some may say this is an 'undue hardship', the reality is that even with the Addition Lands off limits to motorized recreation, the majority of the preserve would still be accessible to the approximately 2000 ORV permit holders (by contrast, NPS estimates 500,000 visitors a year who do not utilize ORVs). Considering the high value of the Addition Lands

in terms of natural resources and as a place for both visitors and tourists to experience 'wild Florida', we believe this is well worth the 'sacrifice' (and some might even find the occasional hike a healthy change from driving).Please be aware that individual comments are what counts with the NPS. Many folks have asked me for a quick sign on letter that says everything. Unfortunately, NPS treats all such form letters as a single response. If you are concerned about this issue, please take a moment to compose a few lines about how you feel about this decision. If you’re a hiker or go out to the Addition, definitely let the NPS know how opening up this area to motor vehicles will impact your experience - or planned experience. The comment period is open until September 30th so you do have some time to prepare. Feel free to send me any comments or questions you may have on the

issue. I will do my best to answer.Finally, the Broward Sierra Group has been leading 'swampwalks' to the Addition Lands for years for both Sierra Club members and non-members. They're a lot of fun. We will schedule several throughout the comment period in order to allow folks a chance to get to know this incredible piece of south Florida. Please email me if you would like to participate and I will send you all the necessary information (what to bring, where and when to meet, etc). Be sure to put 'Big Cypress Hike' in the subject area and include your phone number.Thanks for your continued help,Matt SchwartzEverglades Chair and Outings LeaderBroward Group of the Sierra ClubCo-ChairSierra Club Committee on National Parks and Wildernes