TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Sierra Club Florida issued the following response to Miami-Dade County's intent to pursue permanent protection of the land within Big Cypress National Preserve that was used for the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz":
“Sierra Club Florida has been clear from the beginning: the lands within and adjacent to Big Cypress National Preserve should be permanently protected from development, fossil fuel exploration, and drilling. The closure of the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility is a necessary step, but it does not erase the significant environmental damage already inflicted on this ecologically sensitive landscape.
We welcome Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's recent announcement that her administration intends to pursue permanent protection of the county-owned land that was used for the detention facility. Transferring management of approximately 24,000 acres from Miami-Dade County to the National Park Service may provide the strongest path toward ensuring lasting protection for this critical Everglades ecosystem.
We also welcome Attorney General James Uthmeier's June 22 statement: "The plan has always been to protect the Everglades and take it back to a protected area where it's not a commercial business, an airport." Fulfilling that commitment will require more than simply closing the detention center. It must include a comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts and full remediation of the damage caused by both the detention facility and the long-standing Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) infrastructure.
The future of these lands must be guided by science, conservation, and respect for the unique ecological importance of the Everglades and Big Cypress. Sierra Club Florida will continue advocating for permanent protection, restoration, and responsible stewardship of this globally significant ecosystem.” – Javier Estevez, Political and Legislative Director, Sierra Club Florida
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