Taking Aim with My Earth Day Promise to the Planet

Work takes me most weeks from the Northeast Florida uplands, to Florida Keys and Everglades to the longleaf pine forests of the panhandle in Northwest Florida. It is easy to put the natural world aside when living out of a hotel room or even at home with a well manicured lawn and air conditioned office. I'm putting all that aside this year and refocusing as My Earth Day Promise to the Planet.

Growing up in an era of rapid development within Florida I've seen first hand natural beauty bulldozed over in the name of progress. Now after economic recession some of that so-called progress remains as closed down businesses, partially constructed skyscrapers that resulted from builders going bankrupt all followed by societal blight commonly associated with concrete jungles gone wrong. How do various cities around Florida manage to protect open spaces and prevent urban sprawl? Let's find out.

Although species such as the American Bald Eagle and alligator have made dramatic comebacks from threatened status others such as the black bear and panther have not. Gopher tortoises although protected are not always moved when new construction is permitted as in other situations the mitigation process is fraught with loopholes that favor economic development over environmental conservation and preservation. Where have these species been diminished or lost and are they missed?

Polluted groundwater from industrial waste has harmed wildlife and people. Stormwater runoff and industrial discharges have harmed our streams, rivers and polluted our oceans harming the plants and animals that once thrived in these environments. Likewise illegal dumping, broken offshore oil wells and over fishing have had their toll. What is being done?

Invasive species of plants and animals in Florida have added more than mere beauty, but danger and destruction including waterway clogging water hyacinths, dinner plate sized Cane toad, iguanas, and burmese phythons. Are matters getting better or worse?

With this commitment I'll no longer focus only on the sports assignments that lead me to these places, but take time out to document the beauty and majesty of nature that is too often taken for granted. The rat race of life can lead to an unhealthy obsession with the commercial aspects of life, which thankfully can be easily interrupted by a beautiful sunrise or sunset.