Recommendations for March 19 elections
How small farms can save species — with Congress’ help
.......................................... Rick Christie ..................................... Tony Doris
THE PALM BEACH POST EDITORIAL BOARD mission is to articulate the issues of the day, advocate for policies for the betterment of the community and encourage a civil and robust exchange of ideas. The Board consists of Executive Editor Rick Christie, Editorial Page Editor Tony Doris and Editorial Writer Douglas C. Lyons.
I have written before about the extinction of the American farm. Today, I’m writing about another type of extinction: the extinction of American wildlife.
Florida’s rural lands have experienced drastic changes over my lifetime. I’ve seen longleaf and wiregrass forests cut and planted in slash and loblolly pine and converted to uses that paved the way for the invasion of non-native vegetation.
The natural reoccurring fire was suppressed, allowing hardwood trees to encroach upon historically longleaf pine and wiregrass habitat. Only 3% of the historic range of the longleaf pine ecosystem remains, and it is the only home to more than 30 endangered and threatened species, such as red-cockaded woodpecker and eastern indigo snake.
But now, after implementing forest restoration practices on my property, I’m helping native Florida wildlife return.
My wife, Kitty, and I developed Jubilee Orchards, 50 acres of organic highbush blueberries just east of Tallahassee. I’m restoring much of it back to longleaf pin — one of the most diverse and endangered ecosystems in North America.
Sustainable forestry practices, such as prescribed fire, groundcover restoration, hardwood control and wiregrass planting, support wildlife habitat while keeping my operation productive. With my own eyes, I get to marvel at the return of imperiled species, such as gopher tortoise. More than 80% of gopher tortoise habitat is privately owned, so landowners like me are key to helping this species avoid declining to the point of needing federal listing.
Voluntary conservation programs in the farm bill provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners and partners to implement such conservation practices. These programs are major tools in conserving land for wildlife, our natural and cultural heritage, and keeping small farms working.
For example, I’ve been able to implement these restoration practices thanks to the support of the farm bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This RCPP project has brought together partners, such as Tall Timbers Land Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife and landowners like me to get more than $7 million in funding on the ground in Florida as part of a five-year effort to assist private landowners focused on bettering their landscapes and ultimately improving downstream health. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, RCPP provides funding for voluntary public-private partnerships for locally led conservation efforts on private land.
Private land in the U.S. sits prominently on the front lines of our planet’s interconnected habitat loss and climate change crises. Nearly 70% of the land in the lower 48 states is privately owned. Around 70% of federally endangered or threatened species occur on private lands, and 10% of those species occur only on private lands.
Global temperatures are increasing; 1 million species are threatened with extinction; soils are turning infertile; and water sources are drying up. Florida’s population grows by about 300,000 people a year, resulting in the conversion of thousands of acres of ranches alone every year.
I will not stand for my farm to add to these staggering statistics.
Florida’s private lands, and its land stewards, are vital in conserving our wildlife and climate. Landowners work with partners, such as Natural Resources Conservation Service, to conserve natural resources while keeping small farms thriving. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cannot do it without a strong farm bill that works for wildlife and future generations.
Congress is updating the farm bill this year, which is an opportunity that only comes around about every five years. I urge you to join private landowners like me in asking your members of Congress to include strong biodiversity conservation provisions in the next farm bill and ensure that the conservation programs are accessible to all American farms, especially the small farms.
Lawton “Bud” Chiles and his wife, Kitty Chiles own Jubilee Orchards, an organic blueberry farm in Tallahassee. This opinion piece was originally published by the Tallahassee Democrat and distributed by The Invading Sea website (www.theinvadingsea.com). The site posts news and commentary on climate change and environmental issues affecting Florida.
Violence by immigrants trumped by guns
I mourn with all Americans the death of Laken Riley, savagely murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant. This tragedy is being blamed on lax southern border policy targeting President Biden. If this is the case, who is to blame for the 5,000 children and adolescent victims of gun-related homicides — seven per day occurring in America each year? By this logic, why isn’t former President Trump, an ardent opponent of any restrictions on all reasonable gun control measures during his presidency, responsible for this daily carnage, which disproportionately affects our children? As a father of four, I am much more fearful of the next school/workplace-related shooting than I am of a tragic random act of a deranged illegal immigrant.
Rob Briskin, Palm Beach Gardens
‘Putin Republicans’ undermining democracy
For many months the “Putin Republicans,” led by Sen. Rick Scott and [former President] Donald Trump, have pushed the idea that there is a crisis of illegal immigrants uncontrollably coming into the country. How do we know they are lying? The first bill President Biden proposed to Congress over three years ago was immigration reform.
Scott worked to block it. At its worst, about 12,000 migrants per day turn themselves in along a border from San Diego to Jacksonville. Most are requesting asylum, as is perfectly legal under current law. The “crisis” is that Congress did not allocate enough money to cover the current costs to process asylum seekers. A bipartisan effort to provide emergency funding for the Border patrol, Ukraine and Israel lasted months as the Republicans took vacation after vacation and then refused to even vote on the bill for fear it would pass over the objections of Russia’s Putin, Trump and Rick Scott. The so-called “crisis” is a distraction from the acts to overthrow our democracy. Voters must bring their terror to an end.
Dan Spotts, Ocean Ridge
Supermajority, a tool for the minority
The very foundation of democracy rests on the principle of majority rule. Whenever a 60% majority is required, such as the abortion vote in Florida, it gives power not to the majority but to the minority. Why
On March 19, voters will face the first of three election dates in the 2024 campaign season. The upcoming municipal elections are open to all registered voters living in those cities, towns and villages. Voters face a myriad of important issues that will impact the quality of life in their communities. The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board interviewed candidates in key city commission and council races, to evaluate their priorities and strategies for dealing with important issues, from high-priced housing and public safety to tax rates, development and climate resilience measures. Here’s a recap of our recommendations:
Boca Raton: Seat C, Yvette Drucker, and Seat D,
AndyThomson
Delray Beach: Mayor, Thomas Carney,
Tenille DeCoste, and Seat 3, Juli Casale
Greenacres: Mayor, Charles “Chuck” Shaw, District 1, John Tharp, and District 5, Paula Bousquet Juno Beach: Mayor, Alexander Cooke, and Seat
Diana Davis
Lake Worth Beach: District 1, Sarah Malega, and District 3, Kim Stokes
Riviera Beach: District 2,
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KaShamba MillerAnderson, should the majority be held to the decision of the minority? This is wrong and a violation of majority rule and democracy itself. Is there a place for a 60% requirement? Yes there is. The requirement for a 60% majority within a legislative body causes the majority party to listen to the minority party and find compromise and consensus. Whenever the minority or majority party in a legislative body uses this to block or to ramrod legislation, disregarding compromise and input from across the isle, democracy is diminished and we all lose. We need to end 60% voter requirements for public votes. It is undemocratic.
Bob O’Donnell, Jupiter
Truman’s ‘Do nothing Congress’ applies today
Mr. Antonio Fins: So many times after reading many of your stories, I’ve wanted to let you know what a great job I think you’re doing for the Palm Beach Post in your political coverage. The article ‘Insights from Truman’ was no exception. With a point as factual as the ‘do nothing Congress’ right now, we have got to have President Biden make this his mantra for the next eight months.
Suzanne Antonich, Okeechobee
and District 4, Julie Botel
Royal Palm Beach: Mayor, Fred Pinto Wellington: Mayor, Michael J. Napoleone, Seat John “Jay” Webber, and Seat 4, Shelly Albright West Palm Beach: District 5, Christina Lambert
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