FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: November 26, 2002
State
Acquires Rare Piece of Florida
-- Purchase of
unique habitat protects pitcher plant, safeguards military
installation --
PENSACOLA - Another
piece of Florida was forever preserved today as Governor
Jeb Bush and Cabinet members unanimously approved the
latest addition to the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie.
Today’s Florida Forever purchase offers added protection
to Perdido Bay while safeguarding Naval Air Station
Pensacola from the threat of encroachment.
“This significant
purchase merges our mission of environmental protection
with that of national defense,” said Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David B. Struhs.
“When one single project protects water quality and rare
flora, and at the same time upholds the critical mission
of Florida’s military installations, it’s a win for
all taxpayers.”
In partnership with The
Nature Conservancy, DEP has invested close to $24 million
to acquire half of the 7,661-acre project adjacent to NAS
Pensacola. While providing recreational opportunity, the
purchase of an additional 186 acres protects two and a
half miles of Perdido Bay from development and maintains
the viability of naval aviation training essential to NAS
Pensacola.
Located west of Pensacola,
Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie supports one of the largest
stands of white-top pitcher plants in Florida. The rare
and carnivorous white-top pitcher plant is unique to the
Gulf Coast and found only between the Apalachicola and
Mississippi Rivers. Almost 100 other rare plants and
animals depend on the unusual wet prairie habitat,
including the alligator snapping turtle, sweet pitcher
plant and Chapman’s butterwort.
Today’s vote brings state
ownership of the prairie to 3,396 acres. DEP’s Division
of Recreation and Parks will manage the property as part
of the Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
-30-
.
Press Office
