Statement from Julie Hill-Gabriel on the National Research Council’s Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades: The Fifth Biennial Review, 2014:
"The National Research Council’s Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades: The Fifth Biennial Review, 2014 is an urgent call to action for Everglades restoration. Audubon agrees with the Council’s assessment that decision-makers must expedite restoration projects, like the Central Everglades Planning Process, to prevent further damage to the ecosystem. Sea level rise and invasive exotic species compound the urgent need for restoration. The report also highlights the importance of long-term research and monitoring. The information gathered is key to understanding the effects new projects have on the ecosystem. The NRC report shows recent budget cuts to monitoring programs put the ability to assess ongoing efforts at risk. Roseate Spoonbills, Everglade Snail Kites, Wood Storks, and other iconic species of the Everglades deserve swift action."
Please contact Julie Hill-Gabriel, Audubon Florida Director of Everglades Policy, 786-246-2903, jhill-gabriel@audubon.org