Florida is home to more than 100 federally listed species as well as nearly 120 state listed species. ELC attorneys take a comprehensive and integrated approach to listed species recovery by ensuring that endangered species needs are considered at all levels of government decision-making (federal, state, and local). This includes litigation under the Endangered Species Act, advancing federal and state policy initiatives that aid in the recovery of protected species, and working with clients to create local land use controls that provide greater protections for listed species. ELC works tirelessly to protect federal and state listed species throughout Florida.
Highlights:
- ELC and Greenfire Law successfully negotiated with the U.S. Forest Service to scale back a proposed timber harvest in the Apalachicola National Forest. The Forest Service agreed to several modifications that will help save important Red Cockaded Woodpecker habitat.
- We defeated the proposed construction of a 4-lane road through threatened Florida scrub-jay habitat, resulting in the preservation of an additional 70 acres of scrub and wetland habitat.
- We successfully opposed the siting and construction of an electrical substation in endangered Key Largo wood rat and cotton mouse habitat.
- ELC persuaded federal officials not to conduct experimental land management practices in endangered Lower Keys marsh rabbit habitat.
- We successfully opposed the planned construction of breakwaters within sensitive sea turtle nesting and foraging habitat off Lake Worth, which would have served as precedent for several similar projects all along Florida’s east coast.
- We secured stronger land use protections for snail kites in Osceola County.