Photo: Lauren Yoho/Florida Wildlife Corridor
Almost two centuries ago, Native American tribe members hid in Florida’s Everglades as government forces tried to banish them to Indian territories that later became Oklahoma. Now, as 60% of federally recognized tribes have lost grants or other federal funds totalling more than $56m since Trump took office, the Miccosukee Tribe is looking to return the favor by buying and protecting environmentally significant lands, in a partnership agreement with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The corridor, which was established in 2021, aims to connect 18m acres (7.3m hectares) of state and privately owned wilderness into a contiguous, safe habitat for imperilled and roaming species. The tribe, which is headquartered on a 130-square-mile reservation west of Miami, already has collaborative or direct stewardship of almost 3m acres in the Everglades and Biscayne national parks, and Loxahatchee national wildlife refuge.
|
|
More:
