| Leaders to find out how
decisions affect nature
(Note from RT: Are you aware that in November 2001, Dale Bosworth, head of the U.S. Forest Service, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Steve McCormick, Presiden/CEO Nature Conservancy? The stated reason was that TNC plays a critical role in 'facilitating the conservation of natural resources in the U.S.' Did you ever consider: Is The Nature Conservancy running our country, not our elected officials, not our federal agencies?) March 6, 2003 By Debbie Barr Sentinel Correspondent 633 N. Orange Ave. Orlando, FL 32801 407-420-5286 Fax: 407-418-5220 http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ To submit a Letter to the Editor: insight@orlandosentinel.com (175-word limit) Poinciana, Florida - Community leaders from Osceola, Orange and Polk counties are scheduled to meet at The Nature Conservancy's Disney Wilderness Preserve today and Friday to explore the relationship between natural resources and the economy. The "Welcome to Your Watershed" workshop, presented by The Nature Conservancy and the South Florida Water Management District, is open to the public. The registration fee is $30. Speakers will include representatives from the South Florida Water Management District, Osceola County government, Friends of Lake Apopka, Orange County Regional History Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Through a series of field activities, interactive workshops and presentations, experts will demonstrate how day-to-day decisions affect the long-term health of the environment and, in turn, the economy. Kathy Gross, education and community program manager at the preserve, said the program will educate participants about natural resources that many take for granted. An example is wetlands, which provide flood control as well as water purification. Today, participants will get a firsthand look at the watershed by exploring three native-plant communities on the preserve, determining the number of plants and plant species within a designated area and going through the process of determining where a wetland begins and ends. The group will also go canoeing on Lake Russell to perform water-quality testing and learn about lake management. On Friday, guest speakers will give a historical perspective of land use in the region and present a case study illustrating local conservation issues and challenges. Participants also will tour the preserve to gain a better understanding of the role of The Nature Conservancy in land restoration. The main goal of these field exercises and activities is to give participants information to get a dialogue going about how people can work together to protect natural resources. It also gives key decision-makers in the community a new perspective, Gross said. "In the past, the workshop has given [participants] a new way of thinking about things. It causes them to consider how natural resources figure into their decision-making, and just how important these are to the overall quality of life in the Central Florida region," she said. To get to the site, go south on Poinciana Boulevard to Pleasant Hill Road. Turn right onto Pleasant Hill, go about a half-mile, then turn left onto Old Pleasant Hill Road (look for the Nature Conservancy sign). Go a half-mile, turn left onto Scrub Jay Trail, which leads to the Nature Conservancy's Conservation Learning Center. For information, call Gross, 407-935-0002, Ext. 107. |