8 Things You Can Do for Florida's Environment

Several Sarasota Auduboners, along with the Audubon of Florida staff, chapter leaders from around the state, one gubernatorial candidate (Paula Dockery), environmental researchers, and the state’s top environmental regulator (Michael Sole) attended AOF’s annual assembly in St. Petersburg Oct. 23 and 24. After hearing disturbing reports from national climate change researchers, bad news about some coastal birds, and alarming projections of environmental damage if the legislature approves near-shore drilling and guts growth management protections, the assembly approved conservation priorities for the coming year.

Statewide: Audubon will focus on climate change and energy policy, coastal conservation, and the greater Everglades ecosystem. The Assembly approved the areas of concentration selected by the regional conservation committees, including nine priority areas for action in our Gulf Coast area. These are:

• Water conservation, especially protection of springs and aquifers through fertilizer ordinances and better regulation of water withdrawal from lakes and rivers.
• Participate with other organizations in public campaigns to apply principles of sustainable growth in law and regulation.
• Advocate for wildlife corridors and against fragmenting natural systems.
• Advance the coastal habitat protection campaign with beach nesting and shore-dependent bird stewardship.
• Engage in programs to protect particularly endangered species, including black bears, Scrub Jays, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers , Bluebirds, Burrowing Owls and Whooping Cranes.
• Campaign for cap-and-trade legislation, renewable portfolio standards, and sustainable clean energy.
• Provide outreach, education and leadership on climate issues.
• Oppose offshore drilling.

Please help us in these priority areas during the coming year. We’ll be calling on you, but if you see an opportunity or a problem, don’t wait. Call your elected officials, write letters to editors, and testify at commission hearings, campaign for and vote on environmental issues and candidates. Volunteer to help protect birds and other wildlife. Together we can be an effective and formidable force for our natural environment and the birds and other wildlife that depend on it.

Visit us online here to get involved.

-Wade Matthews, Sarasota Audubon Society Conservation Chair