2011 Florida Forever Calendar

Sarracenia leucophylla, Sarracenia flava, Drosera tracyi Wet Prairie photographed on a foggy morning in Black Water River State Forest-Santa Rosa County Florida. This is representative of the wet prairies in nearby Florida Forever Garcon Ecosystem Project. There are only a few remaining wet prairies, home to rare insectivorous plants including pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts. Most notable is the state endangered White Topped Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia leucophylla, seen here in bloom.

I just received news that one of my images has been selected for the 2011 Florida Forever calendar.  The calendar highlights ecosystems from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s priority acquisition list.

Florida Forever is Florida’s premiere conservation and land acquisition program.  The program replaced Preservation 2000, the largest public land acquisition program of it’s kind in the US.  For more information on this program, go here

To raise awareness about and to raise funds for the acquisition of land on the Florida Forever priority list, LINC (Legacy Institute for Nature & Culture) produces an annual calendar whose images are provided by Florida’s leading conservation photographers.  I can’t adequately express what an honor it is to be included in such a worthwhile project and with such incredibly dedicated and talented photographers.

LINC’s Mission: To raise awareness for natural environments and cultural legacies, educate about important connections between human societies and natural ecosystems, and promote conservation of natural heritage.

As a native Floridian, a lover of natural places and wildlife, and someone who’s sanity depends on spending time outdoors, away from “modern life”, the rapidly disappearing natural areas are of great concern.  Beyond my personal needs, even those who prefer time at the mall to time in the woods, should be concerned.  Florida’s economy depends on the preservation of what it is that makes Florida unique.  With the threat of offshore drilling looming, the unfettered sprawl of development, the very things that lure tourist dollars to the state will be lost.  Our economy is inextricably linked to the health of our bays, estuaries, lakes, rivers, and surrounding and interconnected ecosystems. The very things that make Florida a wonderful place to live and visit are under great strain from shortsighted development and human activity.  Without an aggressive effort, Florida will cease to be the very thing that makes it such a special place.  We have an obligation to future generations to save what’s left.  We have an obligation to be responsible stewards of the state we are privileged to call home.