Real Estate & Property Law

Everglades Replenishment Faces Obstacles

By Alan Ackerman

Miami Herald

Florida has one last, best chance to save America's Everglades forever. That is to purchase 72,000 acres of land currently owned and cultivated by U.S. Sugar. Yet, in her March 18 Other Views column Sugar deal has turned sour, state Sen. Paula Dockery, a Lakeland Republican running for governor, would have us squander this opportunity over petty jealousy and intra-industry politics. To do so, however, would be a terrible mistake that costs Floridians dearly for generations to come.

The Everglades system is one of the world's greatest natural treasures, despoiled by decades of ill-conceived drainage and farming practices. At the heart of the problem are the giant cane fields feeding Florida's sugar industry. Buying this land takes it out of sugar production permanently.

That alone would eliminate much of the agricultural activity that now poisons the River of Grass.

As with any major transaction, politicians and individuals often with good intentions, oppose major changes in the communities ecological and economic infrastructure.  The intended $72,000 Everglades purchase and now the opposition is a very good example. 
 

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on March 31, 2010 (boomark / email).