- Target:
- Florida Department of Forestry and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.gophertortoise.org
We are writing on behalf of our families, communities, and fellow Floridians. We are greatly concerned about the protection for Gopher Tortoises and other upland species and our unique upland habitats.
We are writing to you to ask that you expedite changes in current management of tortoises and rules and guidelines in a way that will save these resources both locally and throughout the state. At the rate development is taking place, we have but a handful of years left before the last great blows to survival have been landed and this and other upland species disappear forever.
We are sincerely worried that money which is available through voter initiatives to establish conservation lands in Florida is being routed away from the initial purposes for which it was collected or donated. Most importantly, many lands are not being managed for biodiversity but are simply being developed into tree farms or not being managed at all.
We ask your support in making sure that best management practices for sustaining biodiversity are in place and that the funds for these programs are not being funneled off for other purposes.
We hope that FWC will work cooperatively with local governments, private landowners and citizens to insure that there are gopher tortoises and other upland species in natural habitats for people to share and enjoy in future generations. Programs should be put into place that have been proven to encourage landowners to carry on agriculture, forestry and other land uses while protecting listed and other upland species.
We ask that the FWC work toward solving problems that have led to the current tortoise management problems including proper education of staff and people who work with tortoise regulations, reasonable and enforceable rules that everyone can understand and comply with in a reasonable fashion. It is important that listed species rules are enforced as diligently as game and fish regulations.
We, the undersigned, call upon the Department of Forestry and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to please take immediate action to work with state and local officials in creating laws that will protect the gopher tortoise from being built upon and killed in large quantities, and put an end to permits that allow the destruction of these animals.
We ask that large areas of lands be set aside to enhance and encourage biodiversity instead of destroying it, and that our tax dollars be used towards conservation instead of destruction.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Save the gopher tortoises petition to Florida Department of Forestry and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was written by Chanell Austin and is in the category Animal Rights at GoPetition.