The method for determining if a species is “endangered” or “threatened” is changing in Florida. The state’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has updated its imperiled species listing process. The Commission will use new criteria—developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature…a worldwide group that advocates for conservation & sustainability.
The decision doesn’t immediately affect the status of any of the 118 animals currently classified as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in Florida. Endangered Species Coordinator – Dan Sullivan – says his agency is using the new criteria because, he says, they provide a quantitative way to gauge imperiled species… WITHOUT involving politics and emotion…

“The IUCN process was one of the most…if not the most…well-respected processes for identifying species at risk of imperilment…it was decided that would be a good starting point…a good foundation from which to start our process. It creates a measuring stick that you can compare from one thing to another.”

Representatives of the Save the Manatee Club say the rule change opens the door for a downlisting of the currently “endangered” Florida Manatee. Patrick Rose is spokesman for the Club. He says since the new criteria focus on whether a species population is growing or shrinking…even the Florida Panther, of which there are only 80 living in the wild, could be downlisted…

“Once they stop these precipitous declines, and they just hold stable for a period, even though they may still be in literally critical condition, they can be taken off the list.”

But Commission spokesman – Dan Sullivan – says the new process allows for a biological review panel that can override classification changes if there’s clear biological justification.

A Naples attorney leaves today for the West African nation of Togo… where he’ll serve as an independent election observer. Steven Grogoza first traveled to the former French colony when he was in the Peace Corps almost thirty years ago. He’ll return to witness Togo’s April 24th presidential election. Grogoza says, historically, the Togolese government has focused very little on the welfare of its people. This election could change that… assuming all parties accept the results.

“One of the big issues in West African politics is civil war. There is a possibility that civil war could break out in Togo. For example, after these elections, if the losing party doesn’t recognize it, they can go to war.”

During the U.S.’s most recent presidential election, a high-ranking member of the Togolese government actually came to southwest Florida. Minister of the Interior and Security, Francois Boko, applied some of what he observed in the 2004 election to his country’s own process.
Boko and Grogoza became acquainted during Grogoza’s stint in the Peace Corps.

Collier County can’t build enough affordable housing if leaders don’t allow for more density. That’s according to the Executive Director of Collier Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Sam Durso leads the busiest chapter in the country... volunteers helped build 115 homes last year.
Durso says increased density can help lower the cost of land a house sits on… especially in a region where property values are skyrocketing. Some officials fear more density will mean more congestion. Not true, according to Durso.

“Building homes for our workforce—closer to jobs in Naples—will actually decrease stress on our roads. If you’ve followed the paper recently, you’ll see that traffic has been used as an argument against affordable housing. It should not be that way. If we can build houses closer to the jobs, that will decrease stress on the roads.”

Besides density limits, Durso points to another obstacle to workforce housing… the NIMBY principle. That’s “Not In My Backyard.” He also sees another trend: apartment complexes that are becoming condominiums… therefore reducing the number of rental options. Durso spoke at a town fall forum Thursday/late last week in Naples. WGCU, 90.1 FM rebroadcasts the event Wednesday night at 7.

Florida’s head auditor is launching a probe of Citizens Property Insurance… the state-created insurer of last resort. The inquiry follows last summer's 4 hurricanes – which left the company in debt—with thousands of dissatisfied customers. The audit will look at the company's practice of contracting with private insurers and how it handles claims. Citizens more complaints after last years’ storms than any other insurer. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – Tom Gallagher – says the company has about 900-thousand policyholders… far more than ever intended. Many of those are wind policies… held by homeowners who need… but can’t get… such a policy through other companies. But Gallagher says that might change. The CFO says the legislature is considering a change that would force other companies to offer wind policies. He believes it would greatly simplify the post-storm process…

“Then we don’t have 2 and in some cases 3 separate adjusters all going to the same house and everybody’s confused. You take someone like my mother, she wouldn’t have a clue what to do with 3 adjusters. And then what does happen is, the wind and the flood guy comes in…and when you total up the damage…you have $100,000 in damage, but they only give you 60…then what are you supposed to do?”

CFO Gallagher says Citizens is short about $540 million after last year's hurricanes…that cost will trickle down to every policy holder in the state…whether they’re insured through Citizens or not. He says there IS good news. Five new companies are applying to operate in Florida – hopefully taking some of the burden away from Citizens.

Access to affordable housing for seniors – and housing sites to replace those damaged by last years’ hurricanes - were on the agenda Thursday for newly appointed state Secretary of Elder Affairs - Carole Green. Secretary Green spent the morning in Charlotte County…talking to seniors and local officials. She visited a trailer park…and got her first close up look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mobile home village off Interstate 75 in Punta Gorda.
The 60-acre site…with 550 trailers…is home to victims of hurricane Charley. Green is touring hurricane-damaged areas to gauge seniors’ needs in the wake of the storm. The lack of affordable housing is significant. She says aid directed at seniors needs to regain its post-storm momentum…

“We’ve got to go back to remembering what it was like just 10 days post hurricane when everybody was pulling together and working together. Unfortunately we’ve gotten far enough away from the hurricanes that people are starting to forget what got us there. And they’re getting a little more territorial again. So I think we’ve got to all get our hats back on that say we’ve got to pull together and work together and find creative ways of doing it.”

Secretary Green began her day in Charlotte County – then traveled to Port St. Lucie & Fort Pierce on the east coast. She says hopefully her fact-finding tour will result in greater public awareness of senior housing needs…and efforts to address those needs.

Congress is deciding the fate of Head Start this year. The federally funded, early childhood program is up for re-authorization. Thursday, an educator from southwest Florida testified on Capitol Hill about the successes of head start for the children of migrant workers. Ryan Warner has more. (AUDIO)

The Fort Myers Miracle completed a four game sweep of the Sarasota Reds Sunday at the Lee County Sports Complex. Players are probably having fun. But, ask the minor league baseball team’s Chief Executive Officer, and he’ll guarantee it. After all, it’s the organization’s philosophy. Amy Tardif explains. (AUDIO)

The fight is over…longtime southern Golden Gate Estates holdout - Jesse Hardy – has agreed to sell his 160-acres to the State for nearly $5 million. The state’s been acquiring land AROUND HIM for the past two decades… in what’s now called the Picayune Strand Hydrologic Restoration Project. Negotiations have gone on for the past 2 years… Hardy turned down several offers of cash & land exchanges. He finally agreed to use a mediator… and the parties reached a deal Tuesday night. Ernie Barnett—with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection—says Hardy’s property is a key component of Everglades restoration…

“Without this property we were in jeopardy of not being able to actually do the hydrologic restoration on the property because we would be compromising flood protection to the north. With all this property in public ownership now we have a design that actually does the restoration and provides flood protection for north of I-75.”

Barnett says the more than 12-hour negotiations had a great spirit of cooperation. Hardy, a former Navy SEAL, has until November 30th to find another place to move from the land.
The restoration will fill canals and remove roads…re-establishing a more natural flow of water.

State environmental officials mark off shorebird nesting sites today. Birds, such as the least tern, will nest in the area through mid-August and they can’t be disturbed because they’re a threatened species. This is the fourth year officials at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have closed parts of Keewaydin Island – an 8-mile long barrier island just south of Naples. People found trespassing inside the marked-off shorebird nesting sites are subject to prosecution under state and federal laws. Renee Wilson is with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. (AUDIO)

The Babcock family has turned down two offers from the state to purchase the 91,000-acre Babcock Ranch. The largely pristine property straddles Lee and Charlotte Counties. Ryan Warner reports. (AUDIO)