With Your Help, We Did It!
Hi Grant, Incredible news!! We just learned today that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) deferred the manatee's status change from Endangered to Threatened. They also directed their staff to undertake a review of the flawed state classification system for ALL imperiled species. These are two major victories for manatees that we've achieved with your help!
Citing the need for a better method to estimate the manatee population and the record 417 manatee deaths in 2006, Governor Charlie Crist asked the FWC to reject the status change and the Commissioners complied. ''We need to protect these gentle creatures,'' said Governor Crist in a recent interview with the The Miami Herald.
The governor's stand was courageous and your outpouring of support gave him the encouragement he needed. In fact, the FWC reported that the governor's office received over 28,000 messages on manatees and the majority of them were in favor of keeping manatees designated as Endangered. With your help, we have accomplished a huge triumph for manatees!
Now we're asking you to make an extra donation. Manatees have a new window of opportunity and, with your assistance, we will have the resources to tackle some goals vital to their protection in the upcoming year:
- Obtain the revision of Florida's flawed imperiled species classification system so manatees and all of the state's imperiled species can be fairly reviewed, classified properly, and receive the protections they need.
- Ensure that the manatee management plan, which the Commission approved today, is fully funded and implemented.
- Increase efforts to conserve natural warm water springs and develop plans to prevent catastophic manatee die-offs should power plants go offline.
- Fight for more law enforcement positions so Florida's waterways will be safer for manatees and people.
- Expand our role in manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts and prevent needless deaths of sick and injured manatees.
We are gearing up for a challenging year in 2008, and we need your help to accomplish these goals. The state downlisting issue has spanned six long years but, with your help, we have achieved a triumphant day for manatees. This success has been a long time coming, and we should all take a moment to celebrate. My sincerest thanks for your strong support and for sending us your generous contribution today so we can continue to safeguard the manatee's future.
Best wishes and happy holidays,
Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist Executive Director
P.S. Please make a tax-deductible donation today using our secure web site or call us at 1-800-432-JOIN (5646).
Please also take a couple of minutes to thank Governor Charlie Crist and the FWC Commission for their strong support of manatees:
Governor Charlie Crist PL-05 The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Phone: 850-488-7146 Fax: 850-487-0801 E-mail: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 Phone: 850-487-3796 Fax: 850-921-5786 E-mail: Commissioners@MyFWC.com
Click here to read highlights of our 2007 activities and accomplishments (pdf).
Contact us at education@savethemanatee.org
Sign up for our free Paddle Tales E-Newsletter: www.savethemanatee.org/enews_signup.htm
Our postal address is: 500 N. Maitland Ave.Maitland, Florida 32751United States
About SMCSave the Manatee Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and singer Jimmy Buffett. To learn more about manatees and our work, go to www.savethemanatee.org
Join Us!Adopt-A-Manatee and join Save the Manatee Club. Your contribution will support our work to help protect endangered manatees and their habitat. For more information, go to www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm
Pass It AlongHelp spread the word about manatees! Please forward this email to your family and friends.
Questions?If you have additional questions, please email us at education@savethemanatee.org
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