A letter addressed to DEP's Acquisition and Restoration Council regarding the controversial proposal to develop family campgrounds at 56 state parks has been drafted and is attached for review. ARC will meet in mid-August for additional discussion and to provide additional direction to staff on this issue, so the letter must be submitted soon if it is to influence DEP and ARC. Please review and be prepared to suggest changes at the Ex Comm meeting so we can finalize the letter.
An additional letter addressing exotic species management in our National Forests by the US Forest Service is also attached for review. It is a simple letter expressing support for their proposed directive for managing invasives. It must be submitted by August 2 deadline, so it is imperative that we also complete and appove this letter at Ex Comm. I also wish to send copies of our final letter to our partner native plant societies in the southeast.
Other policy issues of current interest to FNPS include the continuing proposal to develop a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson SP and a pilot project in Jackson County to manage roadsides with heribcide (Plateau) rather than mowing as a cost-cutting measure. It is proposed that we encourage the county to also consider mowing guidelines developed by the Florida Wildflower Foundation to promote growth of wildflowers, and to suggest their roadsides could be marketed for wildflowers in a manner similar to neighboring Liiberty County, where Jeff Norcini and Gil Nelson have mapped a wildflower route.
On behalf of FNPS, I will attend the second annual Summit of Southeastern Native Plant Societies on July 29 at the Cullowhee Conference in North Carolina. Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia and Texas have also commiitted to attend.
