This week marks the 30th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Key Largo. The four-day event brings together environmental advocates, scientists, elected officials and a broad spectrum of other stakeholders for a closer look at the health of Florida’s River of Grass, and restoration efforts and opportunities for the future. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Send it South: Water for America’s Everglades” and will focus on the need to store and redirect excess water away from coastal estuaries and toward Everglades National Park.
Other topics will include issues related to nutrient pollution, energy production and sea level rise. This year’s conference comes on the heels of a 10 year plan to clean up Lake Okeechobee announced in December by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as well as a the adoption of Amendment One by Florida voters in November which establishes a dedicated source of state funding for land and water conservation efforts. We’ll hear from conference organizers and speakers for a look at the current health of the Everglades and what restoration efforts are needed going into 2015.
Guests:
Cara Capp, National Co-Chair, Everglades Coalition/ Everglades Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association
Jennifer Hecker, Director of Natural Resource Policy, Conservancy of Southwest Florida
Dawn Shirreffs, Senior Everglades Policy Advisor, Everglades Foundation
