About two centuries ago, Native American tribe members sought protection in the Florida Everglades during this period Seminole War When they were hiding in government forces seeking to expel them to Indian territory that later became Oklahoma.
Now, as the Trump administration continues to make wholesale cuts to federal funds from conservation projects, the Mikowski tribe is stepping up its performance as a “moral obligation” to return to what it favors.
The tribe is seeking to purchase and protect land of environmental significance, including some of the former lands Sanctuary providedIn a groundbreaking partnership agreement with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The corridor is an ambitious project that connects 18m acres (730 hectares) of the state and private wilderness to one Continuous, safe habitat For many dangerous and roaming species, including black bears, major deer and Florida black panthers.
Tribal officials said they will work with the Foundation and other partners to “explorer acquisition and management of land within corridors that are important to the tribe and its communities.”
“We have a constitutional obligation to preserve our traditional homelands and protect and feed our tribe’s land and waters since ancient times,” said Talbert Cypress, chairman of the Miccosooke tribe of the 130 square mile west of Miami.
“[But] We have seen a lot of hesitation due to how the government decides to spend or distribute money. ”
The agreement announced at a summit of corridor stakeholders in Orlando last week that as a study by the Native American Fish and Wildlife Association (NAFWS), it found that 60% of federally accredited tribes have Lost grants or other federal funds Since Donald Trump took office in January, it has totaled more than $56 million.
“These services are part of what we receive and replace all the years we abandon, our land, resources, and sometimes unfortunately our culture and language,” NAFWS Executive Director Julie Sostensen Tell the Wildlife Association last month.
Government funds are exhausted, and Existing federal land management agreements Cypress said tribal leaders reassessed their cooperation with other partners due to Trump’s ongoing fierce attacks at the National Park Service.
“There are good reasons why my ex took more rigid approaches. They went through many areas of handling with conservation groups, federal agencies, state agencies, and hardly including them in conversation or looking back. They have a very different approach to this kind of thing.”
“My government has taken a more collaborative approach. We are interacting with different organizations not only to build relationships, but to address relationships that may have become sore in the past, or just not exist.”
Cypress said the tribe already has nearly 3 million acres of collaborative or direct management of tribes in Everglades and Biscayn National Park, as well as the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, is working to identify and prioritize land within the corridors of historic significance and “have these conversations for these conversations.”
He said: “Finally speaking, the tribe will invest some money, but we also help find investors, partners interested in the same thing, which is to protect as much of our natural habitat as possible while providing room for growth and development.
“We show that we can do this in a sustainable way and our voice can help shape the future Florida As far as development is concerned, because once a large amount of land is developed, we will not restore it.
“We need to benefit ourselves not only in the current way, but in the future generations.”
The Florida Wildlife Corridor was founded by lawmakers in 2021 and they approved the initial $400 million acquisition to cover a $20 billion land conservation budget. About 10 million acres of land were retained, and another 8M Considered as an “opportunity” Protection is needed, and environmental groups warn that large areas may still be lost due to development.
The legislature, i.e. Weighing cuts to corridor funds As it attempts to balance state spending, commercial investment and partnerships are encouraged. At last week’s summit, Disney Conservation Fund announced $1 million in grant Used to train conservation teams and expand public access to trails and natural areas.
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