News & Public Affairs

ELAPP members remain optimistic about land preservation in Hillsborough despite state cuts listen

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Tags: ELAPP, preservation, environment, Florida Forever, Hillsborough County Commission, Hillsborough County

On Monday, the board for Hillsborough County’s Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program, or ELAPP, met for the first time since the new Florida state budget took effect. In that budget, $305 million of environmental land acquisition money was eliminated. But ELAPP board members remain hopeful. Forest Turbiville, section manager for regional parks and conservation services in Hillsborough County, said the cuts are affecting partnering agencies more.

"The cutting of Florida For...

Writers, nature enthusiasts gather in St. Petersburg listen

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Tags: Florida Environment, Florida's Waterways, nature, preservation

Natural Florida was up for discussion on Saturday at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Several Florida writers gathered to highlight some of the features of the state’s vast environment and share their outdoor experiences.

The general consensus among the writers who sat at the roundtable-style discussion is that Florida’s environment is very unique compared to those of other states.

Gary Mormino runs the Florida Studies Program at USF St. Petersburg. He said that regardless of t...