 |
In
1929, Ernest Coe, thought of by many as the "Father of the Everglades," proposed
the Everglades be considered a national park. That same
year, botanist John K. Small published "From Eden to Sahara,
Florida's Tragedy" which began a national park movement. |
|
 |
|
|
Accomplishments
Through grassroots support and a network of citizen
action teams, the Trust, for more than a decade, has been fighting,
for government action and adequate funding for restoration.
Highlights
of the Trust's accomplishments.
- Organized a "mini-summit" of
all federal and state agencies in September 1992 to “jump
start” restoration.
- Served as catalyst for a General Accounting
Office (GAO) economic report on the value of the Everglades
(1995).
- Played a key role in the formulation of the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan known as CERP (1992-1996).
- Helped organize several Congressional subcommittee
hearings in Florida (1995, 2000).
- Was the driving force in the
passage of Restoring the Everglades, an American Legacy Act (REAL),
the implementing legislation for CERP, in the U.S. Senate (vote:
81/1 on 9/25/2000) and the U.S. House (vote: 394/14 on 10/19/2000.)
The bill was signed by the President in December 2000.
- Persuaded
Florida officials, in 2001, to commit $2 billion over ten years
to CERP restoration.
- Killed plans for
a commercial airport at Homestead Air Base (2001).
- Ensured adoption
of the scientifically sound water quality phosphorus standard
of 10 parts per billion by the State of Florida (2003).
- Secured
more than $2billion in federal funding for Everglades CERP.
|
|
