Guest guest Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 too bad they will continue to raise cattle there Florida Purchases Hectares of Wilderness Inhabited by Bears, Panthers August 01, 2006 — By David Royse, Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A working ranch and tens of thousands of acres (hectares) of wilderness inhabited by bears, panthers and other species were handed over to the state Monday in Florida's biggest-ever purchase of land for environmental preservation. The $350 million (euro274 million) purchase of the Babcock Ranch, including $310 million (euro242.8 million) in state money and $40 million (euro31.33 million) from Lee County, Florida, puts nearly 74,000 largely undeveloped acres (29,950 hectares) in southwestern Florida -- or about 115 square miles (300 square kilometers) -- into state hands to be conserved. It will create an almost unbroken stretch of brush and swamp wilderness extending from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. " This is just an awesome day, " said State Lands Director Eva Armstrong, who choked back tears before a ceremonial accepting of the deed from developer Syd Kitson. The deal was hailed by several environmental groups. About a year ago, Kitson and Partners bought the 91,000-acre (36,830-hectare) property from the Babcock family, which had owned the ranch for nearly 100 years and had expressed a desire to have most of it preserved. While selling most of the land to the state for the wildlife preserve, Kitson will retain 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares) that will be developed as a new town he is promoting. The town will include about 19,000 homes, but Kitson said it would be a " shining example of environmentally responsible development in the 21st century. " While the majority of the state's conservation groups were behind the project, one, the Sierra Club, had challenged it over the density of the proposed town. The group dropped its challenge after Kitson agreed to some changes to reduce the possibility of sprawl, made some wastewater treatment improvements and increased the size of a wildlife corridor. If George Bush said that the Earth was flat, the headline would read, " Views Differ on Shape of the Earth " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 it is good news for the animals, there is way too much rampant development here in florida. I believe that there are only 100 native florida panthers left. on the downside, it is my understanding that there will be hunting allowed on this acquired land. , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > > too bad they will continue to raise cattle there > > > Florida Purchases Hectares of Wilderness Inhabited by Bears, Panthers > > August 01, 2006 †" By David Royse, Associated Press > TALLAHASSEE, Fla. †" A working ranch and tens of thousands of acres (hectares) of wilderness inhabited by bears, panthers and other species were handed over to the state Monday in Florida's biggest-ever purchase of land for environmental preservation. > > The $350 million (euro274 million) purchase of the Babcock Ranch, including $310 million (euro242.8 million) in state money and $40 million (euro31.33 million) from Lee County, Florida, puts nearly 74,000 largely undeveloped acres (29,950 hectares) in southwestern Florida -- or about 115 square miles (300 square kilometers) -- into state hands to be conserved. > > It will create an almost unbroken stretch of brush and swamp wilderness extending from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. > > " This is just an awesome day, " said State Lands Director Eva Armstrong, who choked back tears before a ceremonial accepting of the deed from developer Syd Kitson. > > The deal was hailed by several environmental groups. > > About a year ago, Kitson and Partners bought the 91,000-acre (36,830-hectare) property from the Babcock family, which had owned the ranch for nearly 100 years and had expressed a desire to have most of it preserved. > > While selling most of the land to the state for the wildlife preserve, Kitson will retain 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares) that will be developed as a new town he is promoting. > > The town will include about 19,000 homes, but Kitson said it would be a " shining example of environmentally responsible development in the 21st century. " > > While the majority of the state's conservation groups were behind the project, one, the Sierra Club, had challenged it over the density of the proposed town. > > The group dropped its challenge after Kitson agreed to some changes to reduce the possibility of sprawl, made some wastewater treatment improvements and increased the size of a wildlife corridor. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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