Mangroves 1 – Developer 0 because mangroves are vital but another warehouse is not

By Staci-lee Sherwood

Sometime you get into a fight to save something and you lose.  Other times you get lucky and win.  The vote of 4-1 to not approve a developer’s proposal to cut down a Mangrove wetland in Dania Beach to build his warehouse is one of those rare wins.  Go to any public meeting whether it’s in a small town or big city and you quickly see how developers usually have all the cards.  There is never a need to rush development.  Once an area is under construction whatever species that lived there is either killed or evicted.  The wild flora cut down and destroyed.  Once something is destroyed it’s forever.  Extra due diligence is always better than a rushed decision. 

Politics can be a nasty game and over the years it has gotten worse.  If the public doesn’t engage they will only further cut themselves out of the process.  Then we will no longer have a democracy but something that looks more like a dictatorship that rams through legislation despite huge public outcry.  In many places from the nation’s capitol to the smallest town we already see some of that.

What is at stake

For over a year five acres of land was at the center of a growing controversy.  How this parcel was sold also is a question.  Mangroves are legally protected in Florida.  As the state explodes with development the Mangroves, like many other once abundant species, are vanishing.  As the storms become more frequent and violent we need more, not less, wetlands as a buffer from flooding.  How NOVA Southern University and a nonprofit even came to own land the county or state should have owned and held as forever wild in perpetuity, begs the question what is truly protected.   For now this parcel remains wild.

There have been over two dozen species documented, with more likely to be added once all the trail cam data is explored.  The range from birds to turtles to bats, using specially designed acoustic recordings, showed this parcel to be an active thriving habitat, not a dead zone as the environmental consulting firm, the Chappel Group, had described.  Developers hire people to being them results.  It’s understood their findings will always favor the developer.  That is how business works. The long list of species documented, the importance of the wetlands, all shine a light on how important it is to have independent biologists compare their studies to what those hired by developers report. 

Many species like the Woodstork are visitors who use the trees to perch and rest in the shade and the water to fish for food.  Removed from the federal Endangered Species List as ‘endangered’ they are still listed as ‘threatened’ and also protected in Florida. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was established to protect birds as they migrated.  This is an important piece of legislation because it closes the gap which exists between states.  A species might have protection in one state but not another as they travel back and forth to a breeding or wintering site.  This law gives them protection wherever they are. 

Many species, despite legal protection, still have declining populations.  The Great Blue Heron, once a common site in Florida, suffers a population decline.  In 2007 I saw dozens of breeding pairs in places like Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Wakodatchee Wetlands (manmade) where they either no longer exist or only breed in small numbers.  This is one reason protecting places like this wetland parcel in Dania Beach is even more important.

The Woodstork is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State Threatened in Florida.

The Tri-colored Heron is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State Threatened in Florida'

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is also protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The Great Blue Heron is also protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The White Ibis is protected under the state Imperiled Species Management plan.

Mangroves are protected in Florida.  They are vital to a healthy wetland ecosystem and serve as a natural buffer against storm surge and flooding.  They also provide shade which naturally cools the temperature.  

Mangroves all over need protection

Just a few hundred feet away sits the Dania Beach Monkey Sanctuary run by biologist Dr. Missy Williams.  She gave expert testimony documenting the dozens of species dependant on the wetlands and the importance of the wetlands themselves.   Her sanctuary is home to several monkeys who can’t be released back into the wild.  This land is also home to a wild group that has lived there quietly for nearly a century.  Their population has rarely waivered above 30 in all that time.  The monkeys are a treasured and beloved part of the Dania Beach community.  Their home includes this wetland parcel and they would have been negatively impacted as well.

Seeing is believing

The cautionary tale is to first physically visit any land up for sale and document what species are living there before it’s sold to developers.  This would save enormous time and energy for everyone involved.  Too many times land is considered a dead zone or classified as ‘unused’ when in fact it’s used 24/7 by species who can’t voice their concerns.  That’s where the public and documentation come into play.  Several city and county commissioners made the trek to see the parcel in question for themselves. 

Once they walked the property they saw it as the thriving ecosystem it is and not a dead zone as had been described to them.  The importance of the wetlands and mangroves was staring them right in the eye.  Protection became obvious.

Big thank-you to the Commissioners for doing the right thing

It’s rare to actually win against developers.  Here in Florida the Governor is openly hostile to anyone or anything he deems an obstacle to development.  The entire FWC Commission is made up of developers.  Many boards have been filled either with developers or those with close ties to them.  You see the theme here.  Time and again public outcry, or even questions, have been ignored.  Many see the political system that is suppose to follow the rule of law as broken leaving the public out of the loop.

In 1 week I spoke at 2 local hearings.  In Margate the commissioners talked to each other and the public as if they were 5 year olds.  Ultimately they voted to approve a business that exploits wild animals.  In Dania Beach the commissioners acted like adults, listened to all the information given and chose to protect the habitat of wild animals and mangroves.  Elections have consequences.  The public deserves to have those in power act like adults and listen to all the facts and opinions before making a decision.

A HUGE thank you to the commissioners of Dania Beach who voted to protect the wetland parcel;  Mayor Joyce Davis, Commissioner Lori Lewellen, Commissioner Luis Rimoli and Commissioner A.J. Ryan.   Voting to approve was Vice Mayor Marco Savino.  The suggestion of a land swap was brought up by Savino which many think is a good idea.  If the swapped parcel was ready to build on, as in not a wetlands or wildlife habitat, that would solve most if not all the controversy.  This would also allow the developer to have his warehouse likely at a less expensive cost.  I hope this idea is further pursued.

If you’re a commissioner, either elected or appointed to any board, be like Dania Beach, not Margate.

Let’s take the win and keep fighting for other at risk places

With so many projects coming at the public, from the mega data centers proposed around the state to forests being cut down for housing to racetracks going up in Panther habitat, it’s good to have a win.  To all the groups who are involved in a battle to save either a habitat or your quiet way of life do not give up.  It is possible to win if you work together and educate people about what is at stake and why it should be protected.   If a viable land swap can be made that is always an option.  Just don’t give up.  The wildlife and trees have no voice unless you give them one.  Once they’re gone….they’re gone forever.

Click here to learn more about this land and support the Dania Beach Monkey Sanctuary

https://vervetproject.org/