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FWC Commissioners approve gopher
tortoise management plan
Sept. 12, 2007
Contacts: Beth Scott: (850) 251-3970 or Joy Hill (352) 732-1225
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commissioners (FWC) approved a unique, far-reaching plan
Wednesday to protect and preserve gopher tortoises and their
habitats.
"This is a historic step forward in the state’s
approach to habitat and wildlife management,” FWC Chairman
Rodney Barreto said.
The plan, available at
MyFWC.com/imperiledspecies, is the result of thousands of
hours of work by FWC staff, scientists, stakeholders, interest
groups and members of the public, Barreto said.
Final approval by the commissioners places
gopher tortoises in the "threatened” category and outlines broad
goals and very specific steps for protection of the species and
its habitats, said FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad.
New requirements call for relocating gopher
tortoises away from construction areas into public and private
habitat where the species can thrive, Barreto said.
"We want to make certain the gopher tortoise has
the protections it needs, and we want to make Florida the
national leader in adopting policies to protect and preserve
native wildlife and habitats,” Barreto said. |
