April 22, 2008
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
McCollum Recognizes 38th Anniversary of Earth Day with Statewide Environmental Groups
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today recognized the 38th anniversary of Earth Day with representatives from statewide environmental groups by planting a tree at the Florida Capitol. At the tree-planting ceremony, held next to the House Office Building’s rose garden, the Attorney General spoke about the importance of conservation and preservation and his commitment to safeguarding those ideals for Floridians.
“It is vitally important to ours and future generations that we make conservation and preservation high priorities,” said Attorney General McCollum. “By protecting our state’s natural resources, we are safeguarding its treasures for years to come.”
The tree, an Arapaho crape myrtle, was chosen for its ability to thrive in hot environments with little water. The crape myrtle was provided by Tallahassee Nurseries, a nursery locally-owned in Tallahassee since 1938.
Prior to the tree-planting, the Attorney General met with members of 1000 Friends of Florida, Audubon of Florida, the Nature Conservancy, the Florida Wildlife Federation, the Florida Recreation and Parks Association, and the Trust for Public Land. The meeting was organized to create dialogue between the groups and the Attorney General, who often engages in environmentalist issues as a member of the Florida Cabinet.
“We salute Attorney General McCollum for his continuing commitment to Florida's environmental land protection legacy,” said Lester Abberger, with 1000 Friends of Florida, a non-profit organization founded to serve as the state’s growth management watchdog. “We look forward to working together with him to extend and enhance that commitment for the benefit of this and future generations of Floridians.”
“Earth Day is a time when we can appreciate the nature's bounty and beauty and recommit ourselves to conservation and green living,” said Eric Draper, Deputy Director of Audubon of Florida. “The day also gives us a chance to remember that, through the good works of our state leaders such as Attorney General Bill McCollum, Florida's environment is protected for future generations.”
Conservation and preservation have long been priorities of Attorney General McCollum. As a U.S. Congressman, he led the effort to designate the Wekiva River as part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. Recently, the Attorney General was instrumental in helping the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Weeki Wachee Springs enter into a proposed agreement which will preserve the attraction by converting Weeki Wachee Springs into a state park.
The first Earth Day celebration was held on April 22, 1970, when 20 million Americans gathered to show their support for a healthy, sustainable environment. This movement eventually led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Today, through its own environmental protection laws and land acquisition programs, Florida’s water and air quality have improved over the years, and more than four million acres of habitat have been preserved for future generations.