Wonderful news from Florida

Not just for alligators, for everyone

BBC News reports in “Healing Everglades’ river of grass” that governor Charlie Crist “announced plans to buy more than 800sq km (300sq miles) of land used for growing sugarcane, and restore it to its natural state.”

The idea is to turn sugarcane fields back into wetlands, and restore the natural water flow of the Everglades.  But this goes way beyond just alligators. It should cool the area somewhat. It will absorb storm surges and keep up the clear water table for coastal cities.Also wetlands are the most effective kind of carbon sink on Earth - that’s 300 mi2 of solution, there.  And it will benefit Florida’s economy too - ecotourist dollars into perpetuity.  A little good news for a change.

Posted by George on 06/25/08 at 10:42 PM

  1. If only this would also keep all that ungrown sugar out of our food. Something there is about commercial food manufacturers that hates any food without sugar in in.

    Posted by gerry rosser  on  06/26/08  at  06:42 AM

  2. Good news indeed.  It also provides habitat for freshwater mussels, which provide essential filtration.  They are the aquqtic equivalent of the canary in the coal mine, so I expect they will be monitored carefully.

    Posted by WeeDram  on  06/26/08  at  09:13 PM

  3. This is good news! I do hope they succeed in their goal!

    Posted by Fairings  on  08/26/08  at  10:52 PM

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