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Natural
Trails & Waters Coaliton Press Release Conservationists praise the Bush Administration over actions at Big Cypress and the Everglades Washington DC - Big Cypress National Preserve, a critical component of the larger Everglades ecosystem, may finally receive the protection it deserves. On Friday, the Department of Interior broke off negotiations with off-road vehicle users who have sued the Department of Interior to overturn a National Park Service Plan designed to limit the environmental damage and threats to the Florida panther. "The decision not to continue settlement talks is good news and a further sign that the Administration is serious about managing Big Cypress as a National Preserve and not as a private off-road vehicle playground," said Brian Scherf, Director of the Florida Biodiversity Project. "We expect the Administration to continue to defend the Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan in court if the plaintiffs continue with their lawsuit to eliminate the current plan." "We have an opportunity to protect Big Cypress because the Department has indicated it will now defend the off-road vehicle plan" stated Amy Atwood, Attorney at Meyer and Glitzenstein. "This type of action, to protect public lands instead of negotiating them away to outside interests, should be the Administration"s rule, not the exception." "We commend Secretary Norton for ending the settlement talks; it was the right thing to do," said Scott Kovarovics, Director of the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition. "The Department now has an opportunity to implement a common sense management plan that will protect the Florida Panther and the larger Everglades ecosystem from the adverse effects of swamp buggies." Currently, there are over 23,000 miles of unauthorized off-road vehicle routes within the Preserve. The Park Service Plan is designed to reduce damage caused by unlimited swamp buggy use.
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