By Patricia Behnke Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission MyFWC.com

Partnerships Promise Hope for Florida's Wildlife

Too much, too fast, too late – so some folks shout about greenhouse gas emissions. But, thankfully, that is not the whine of the wildlife community.

Here’s some positive climate change news for a change. Across Florida, wildlife managers are planning, researching and monitoring to ensure our species are able to adapt to predicted environmental changes.

{sidebar id=1}Imperiled species will feel the first impacts of climate change because their status makes them already vulnerable to any changes in the environment. Florida’s snail kite teeters dangerously close to the precipice of extinction because of habitat disappearance and degradation. Once it sailed the air from southeast of Tallahassee to the Everglades, looking for freshwater marshes to find its favorite food, the apple snail. However, today its range is limited to a few sites in Central Florida and South Florida. Is it too late to save this species?

No, because folks are working diligently to protect and conserve species such as the snail kite. But it takes foresight and partnerships to make a difference.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conserves and protects the state’s fish and wildlife. Conservation is a fluid practice because it involves living organisms in perpetual movement. The FWC and other wildlife conservationists must be flexible, especially in times when the environment is changing faster than species can adapt.

“We must work together and remember all our best laid plans require flexibility,” said Dr. Elsa Haubold, the FWC’s Species Conservation Section leader. “Our imperiled species are already vulnerable; climate changes and sea level rise will tax them even further.

“We must be ready to meet those challenges with wise and forward-thinking management strategies.”

Some of the FWC’s strategies include the creation of a climate change team charged with integrating climate change thinking, planning and actions agency-wide.

The most tangible way the FWC has been preparing for the future is in revising the way it manages wildlife in the most danger – the imperiled species. An FWC team, led by Haubold, has been working for nearly two years on revisions to the way Florida lists and manages imperiled species. Even though the FWC has the responsibility to manage wildlife wisely, we realize we must engage others in the process. It takes a whole state, not just a village, to conserve Florida’s diverse, unique and abundant wildlife. The imperiled species team has made it a priority to work with its partners to create the best possible conservation strategies for our imperiled species.

“We appreciate that the FWC has solicited input from diverse groups to revise its species-listing and management planning process,” said Julie Wraithmell, Wildlife Policy Coordinator for Audubon of Florida. “Threatened status in combination with collaborative management plans will be essential to pull many of Florida’s declining species back from the brink of extinction.”

{sidebar id=1}I’ve had the privilege of sitting in on workshops where FWC staff listens to and works with all its partners. Even when the discussions become heated, one thing keeps the group participating. Each person present cares deeply about Florida’s fish and wildlife. When the goals are the same, the means to achieving them are merely details that need adjusting to ensure that wildlife thrive, despite the challenges of climate change.

“The FWC performs a balancing act between conserving wildlife, while still providing opportunities for a variety of human activities,” said Bonnie Basham, who represents Florida Airboat Association and BOAT US at these meetings. “We appreciate that our voice is heard, and it is always good to hear other perspectives so compromises can be reached. We all care passionately about Florida's heritage and want to preserve the state's resources for access by all of Florida's future generations. I think we all share a common goal of conservation of Florida's resources."

As individuals, we are partners as well. If you should be so lucky to see a rare snail kite in its very limited habitat, sit back and enjoy. But remember to always stay out of posted areas, whether in wetlands or at the beach. Allow Florida’s wildlife to be just that – wild.  

Too much, too fast, too late? Never – not for our precious natural resources. We have the crown jewels here in Florida, so let’s make sure we do everything now to keep the tiara in place in the future.

Contact Patricia Behnke at pat.behnke@myfwc.com .

This article originally published on November 3, 2009.

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