DePaolis Advocates for Green Heart of Everglades
17 May 2023
On May 11, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis advocated for the ‘Green Heart of the Everglades’ land acquisition at the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board meeting.
The land acquisition of over 11,000 acres will connect Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. Along with the land itself, the $29 million-dollar price tag comes with the mineral rights to the area, preventing mining interests from damaging these sensitive areas.
“The best way to protect the land is to buy it,” said DePaolis. “Purchasing land to protect for conservation is a key component of Everglades restoration, and this purchase will promote the connectivity necessary to preserve these unique environments and the wildlife that rely on them.”
DePaolis also asked the governing board to consider adding a Stormwater Treatment Area to the C-43 reservoir project, and stressed the importance of getting the lake as low as possible before the start of the rainy season.
To protect and care for Southwest Florida's coastal ecosystems.