Visitors to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge are often startled to see an unwelcome sight as they approach the refuge gate. Instead of the beautiful natural landscape they expect, they are greeted by a huge clear-cut, devoid of vegetation. Plies of tree stumps are scattered across the barren scarred earth.
Here are a few pictures. The public land is on the left, and the clear-cut private land on the right. Which do you prefer? Which would you like as a neighbor?
This particular development is located in frosted flatwoods salamander habitat. The species is listed as a threatened by the Federal Endangered Species Act.
Was any attempt make to relocate any salamanders before the land and vegetation was destroyed?
Some development is done in a environmentally friendly manner, some is poorly done. But once development occurs a part of the landscape is lost forever
Please support our public lands!
Jim