Local Florida Government Workshops set for Gopher Tortoise Conservation
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct regional workshops to present information on the management plan and permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises.
The goal of these workshops is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species. In addition, the FWC will discuss financial incentives available for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises.
Scheduled for June 4, 5, 7 and 11 are workshops in Gilchrist, Orange, Hernando and St. Lucie counties. Representatives from neighboring counties are encouraged to attend. The workshops are free, but registration is required, as space is limited.
To register, please send your name and the name of your organization to Alexandra.Perryman@MyFWC.com.
Gilchrist County
Monday, June 4
9:30-11 a.m.
Otter Springs Park & Campground
6470 SW 80th Ave.
Trenton, FL 32693
Orange County
Tuesday, June 5
9:30 a.m. – noon
Christmas Civic Association
23760 E. Colonial Dr.
Christmas, FL 32709
Hernando County
Wednesday, June 7
9:30 a.m. – noon
Hernando County Community
Activity Center
205 East Fort Dade Ave.
Brooksville, FL 34601
St. Lucie County
Monday, June 11
9:30 a.m. – noon
St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners Chambers
2300 Virginia Ave.
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
Workshops will be held in additional counties in upcoming weeks. For more information, including the proposed draft revisions and public comment on the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise and click on “Management Plan.” Written comments on this draft plan will be accepted until June 25.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
