Dear Friend,
Theodor Roosevelt said “I want to ask you to keep this great wonder of nature as it now is. I hope you will not have a building of any kind, not a summer cottage, a hotel or anything else, to mar the wonderful grandeur, the sublimity, the great loneliness and beauty of the canyon. Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it.” President Roosevelt who created National Parks was speaking of the Grand Canyon but I am sure he would mean it for all National and State Parks that followed and not allow Golf Courses in a State Park. Parks are Sacred!
The Florida DEP wants development in 9 State Parks including 3 Golf Courses in Jonathan Dickinson! (click this link to see the announcement) This is the largest area of protected scrub jay habitat in Southeast Florida. It is there I fell in love with this incredibly social bird species! They are the state’s only endemic bird, which means the Florida Scrub Jay is found nowhere else. In order to survive they require a sandy, scrubby habitat. Each Scrub Jay family needs a territory of around 22 - 24 acres which due to habitat loss has become hard for the birds to find. Their need for such a specific habitat is one reason why Scrub Jay numbers are declining. This is only one of multiple threatened or endangered species found in this park alone. Scrub Jay, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane, Gopher Tortoise, Indigo Snake, Gators, Eagles, Osprey, Manatee, and many more call this home! Golf Course are
My friend Jeff Corwin went on MSNBC to speak about this, he was able to use my footage of the park from some of my adventures. click the video below.
How Golf Course Development May Affect Our State Parks
According to Rain or Shine Golf
the environmental impact of golf courses is sky-high. From their construction to maintenance, golf courses inflict several negative effects on the environment.
For instance, a huge land-clearing effort is required to start the development of a golf course, often leading to the destruction of entire ecosystems. To clear all this land, heavy machinery is used, which contributes large amounts of carbon emissions and affects nearby waterways.
Land Footprint
Compared to any other sport, golf requires more land per player. Due to the development of golf courses, natural habitats are destroyed and native species are forced to leave their homes. This also leads to soil erosion and water pollution due to sediment runoff.
Water Management
Golf courses in Utah need around 9 million gallons of water a day to maintain their lush condition, the same size as 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Wasting this amount of water in drought-ridden areas threatens not just plants and animals but also communities in the area. An overuse of freshwater sources can leave farmers, manufacturers, and residents with little water to survive.
Pesticides
The golf industry uses approximately 50 pesticide active ingredients, including chlorpyrifos—an insecticide that is banned for residential use by the EPA due to developmental hazards. Having to trim golf turf to low heights also makes it even more vulnerable to pests, which leads to more pesticide use.
We must protect our parks and increase access to the great outdoors while protecting space and habitat for all the animals we share it with. Keep in mind golf courses can work hard to reduce these impacts. White Oak Conservation has a green golf course. Click here to see an ecologically managed course.
Be Well Be Loved,
Geoffrey Smith
Sources:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Rain or Shine Golf
Golf Course Land Positive Effects on the Environment, Lauren Sewell
CNN
By CNN Sports Staff
National Library of Medicine
The Dye Course at White Oak
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