Protecting & Caring Through Advocacy

The SCCF Environmental Policy team constantly engages with every level of government, from municipal to federal, and works with conservation organizations throughout the state to advocate for our ecosystems. While that can seem like an insurmountable challenge, we have seen some massive wins and it’s important to celebrate when we can.

• The Eden Oak project was a planned development of single-family residences that would have required the destruction of a local mangrove ecosystem. We fought this project for seven years and worked diligently to keep local citizens informed and engaged. We also provided legal analysis to help county leaders understand why this project was detrimental. The proposed development was dealt a major blow in April when the request for rezoning from agriculture to residential was denied. SCCF will continue to monitor plans for the property.

• SCCF is intimately involved each year during the Florida legislative session. The policy team monitors bills as they are introduced and highlights important bills (good and bad) on our legislative tracker. During session, the team tracks bill changes, coordinates with other environmental groups, and drafts emails for SCCF members to easily send to their representatives. Visit sccf.org to see the final results of the 2023 session on our our Environmental Policy page.

• Restoring the Everglades is a perennial issue in Florida. Rebuilding the river of grass is a massive undertaking, but much of the hard work has already been done and the projects are either planned or being built. Now, the difficulty lies in securing enough funding to make sure they don’t stall. The policy team has been advocating for continued federal funding to ensure that Florida will experience the benefits of a restored Everglades.

SIGN THE “RIGHT TO CLEAN WATER” PETITION

Clean water is necessary for our way of life in Florida. Whether you fish, boat, enjoy the beach, eat in a restaurant, or work in an adjacent industry, you rely on it. The tourism-based economy of Southwest Florida is tied directly to our water quality. It is horrifying to see the steady degradation of our water, despite a seemingly universal understanding of the importance of clean water among our leaders.

When the agencies in charge of protecting Florida’s water are unwilling to take necessary steps to keep our water clean, there are few enforcement mechanisms available to the average citizen. A ballot initiative would add a “Right to Clean Water” amendment to the state constitution. This amendment would give a cause of action to everyday Floridians to hold agencies accountable for failing to fulfill their duties. To learn more and sign the petition to place the issue on the 2024 ballot, go to floridarighttocleanwater.org.