Habitat Conservation Through Community Planning - A Logical Framework
Most development approvals are given at the level of the local community and incrementally, through multiple approvals, serious impacts to wildlife habitat occurs. Further, throughout Florida it is a fact that individual local governments each have (or have access to) professional planners, transportation and stormwater engineers, parks and recreation designers within their normal organizational structure.
In fact, local governments are instructed to provide through their local government comprehensive plans to preserve, promote, protect, and improve the public health, safety, comfort, good order, appearance, convenience, … prevent the overcrowding of land and avoid undue concentration of population; facilitate the adequate and efficient provision of transportation, water, sewer, schools, parks and recreational facilities, housing, and other requirements and services; and conserve, develop, utilize, and protect natural resources within their jurisdictions. (Chapter 163, Part II F.S.).
One aim of this project is to investigate and suggest a logical framework whereby the variety of existing organizational units found within most local governments can be integrated/cross-linked to better plan for the inclusion of wildlife and habitat (preserved, conserved or restored) as development or redevelopment occurs. To work in this direction there is a need for improved planning, consistent interdepartmental coordination and review of proposed development and more extensive reliance on multiple uses, multi-benefit projects.
Next: The Habitat Planning Process.
