News & Public Affairs
Sarasota County promotes environmental awareness about Florida’s seagrass meadows listen
03/28/12 Samuel JohnsonWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: environment, beaches, Sarasota County Beaches, Conservation, seagrass
Environmentally engaged volunteers are acquainting the public to the importance of Florida’s unique animals and plants. At an event for seagrass Awareness Month in Siesta Key, organizers said protecting and preserving Florida’s coastal regions starts at the grassroots level.
The volunteers, calling themselves, “beach ambassadors,” have adopted a simple goal. They serve residents who are interested in knowing more about ...
Be the first to commentVolunteers install man-made oyster reefs in Tampa Bay listen
03/09/12 Liz McKibbonWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tampa Bay Watch, oyster reef, Conservation, environment, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Water
Oyster habitats benefit the overall Tampa Bay estuary. A group of volunteers and a local nonprofit are creating structures for new oyster communities to thrive in the Bay near Riverview. The group bagged more than 8.5 tons of fossilized shells at the Shultz Nature Preserve today.
About 50 volunteers arrived at Williams Park boat ramp this morning at 9:00, ready to provide helping hands to create new man-made oyster beds. Volunteers were from a range of ages, with a mix of first time volun...
Be the first to commentFlorida gets federal grants to support habitat conservation for endangered species including scrub jay listen
09/29/11 Olivia KabatWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: grants, environment, endangered species, Conservation, scrub jay, Florida Forever, St. Joe Company
Last month the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced $53 million in grants given to 17 states for habitat conservation planning for endangered species. Florida’s grants will benefit the Florida scrub jay and three endangered plant species.
The Florida grants allow states to work with conservation groups and private landowners to create conservation plans to ensure the survival of endangered species. They’re possible because of the Endangered Species Act. Through the Habitat Conservation...
Be the first to commentSTEM students & Electrathon
05/16/11 Jon ButtsSustainable Living and Alternative Health Listen to this entire show:
Tags: education, students, electric vehicles, conservation, sustainability
Our first guest was the coordinator for Hillsborough County’s Stormwater Environmental Program, John McGee. John talked about the Adopt-A-Pond and Lake and Streams programs and how we can get involved with the health of these backyard ecosystems. You can find out more at www.hillsborough.wateratlas.org.
Next up we had the Math & Science Supervisor for the Pinellas County School System, Rose Mack, join the program to talk about the Science Technolo...
Be the first to commentLocal Permaculture
05/02/11 Jon ButtsSustainable Living and Alternative Health Listen to this entire show:
Tags: farming, organic, organic farming, food, permaculture, fishing, grouper, conservation, Ocean Conservancy
To start today’s program the Deputy Director of the Ocean Conservancy’s Fish Conservation Program Libby Fetherston join the program to talk about new limits on Grouper fishing in the Gulf. Their will be a public meeting at the Carlyon Hilton in St Pete on May 3 starting at 6:30 PM. To look at the agenda you can check out the www.oceanconservacy.org web site.
Next up a local Permaculture Design Robert Segundo join the program to talk about some general pri...
Be the first to commentHillsborough County hosts "Art of Sustainability" forum listen
09/17/10 Joshua Lee HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: sustainability, energy, environment, conservation, efficiency
Hillsborough County is looking for ways to get greener as environmental awareness and sustainability grow ever more popular in marketing and politics. Local planning officials and businesses proposed ways to make the region more sustainable this morning at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Tampa. It was the 2nd annual “Art of Sustainability” forum called E3: Energy, Environment, and Economics. County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said that the region will begin to look at its o...
Be the first to commentHillsborough County Commission Approves ELAPP Cone Ranch Purchase listen
02/17/10 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: water, ELAPP, Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, Al Higginbotham, Mariella Smith, Conservation, Hillsborough County Commission, Cone Ranch
The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted 6-0 today to transfer Cone Ranch from the county water utility to its Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
The purchase will take place using $11.8 million in ELAPP bond money, which Utilities and Commerce Administrator Mike Merrill said was less than what he was hoping for.
Water Utility Director Paul Vanderploog said that not transferring the land for the price of a full assessed value that may have total...
Be the first to commentPublic Service Commission Could Strengthen Energy Efficiency Incentives listen
11/11/09 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Public Service Commission, Nathan Skop, Nancy Argenziano, Energy conservation, energy efficiency, Energy, Conservation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
On the heels of a summer of record breaking highs – and amid an ongoing recession, cutting energy costs is on the minds of many consumers. The Florida Public Service Commission was asked to come up with energy conservation goals for the state’s seven major utility providers. Yesterday, the commission sent its staff back to the drawing board, citing that the goals were weak. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Attorney George Cavros says the goals were not anywhere near where they should be. ...
Be the first to commentSWFWMD plans Get Outside event in Pasco County listen
11/04/09 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: swiftmud, recreation, Conservation, bike, hiking
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly known as SWFWMD, has produced a new Recreation Guide to more than fifty properties it owns.
As part of the promotion of that guide, this Saturday SWFWMD is hosting a “Get Outside” gathering at one of those properties. It’s at Pasco County’s Starkey Wilderness Pres...
Be the first to commentConserving the coast in the face of climate change listen
10/26/09 Matthew CimitileWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: climate change, Conservation, sea-level rise, hurricanes, desalination
A panel discussion addressing climate change’s impacts to Florida’s coastal ecosystems and strategies to adapt to warmer conditions and rising seas was hosted by the Audubon Society in St. Petersburg on Friday.
Though scientists have reached a consensus over the causes and likely effects of climate change, how to adapt to a warmer world remains fuzzy. That’s especially the case in areas where some of the greatest changes will occur, the coast. For many scientists and environmentalists ...
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