Florida Defenders of the Environment

Protecting Freshwater Resources
Founded in 1969, Florida Defenders of the Environment was instrumental in halting the Cross Florida Barge Canal. It might have seemed far-fetched that a relatively small group of concerned citizens could stop a massive federal project already in progress to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico but the work was halted in 1971. In their pioneering effort to stop the canal, FDE members completed one of the nation's first environmental impact statements.

The Cross Florida Barge Canal was finally deauthorized in 1990 and, since that time, FDE has focused its efforts on repairing the damage caused by that project. Especially at a time when sprawl and development threaten valuable ecosystems all over the state, the restoration of 16 miles of river, 20 natural springs, and 7,500 acres of hardwood floodplain forest, one of the most biologically diverse, but rapidly disappearing habitats in the southeastern United States, will be a tremendous victory for the environment.

FDE has contributed to the protection and restoration of many of Florida’s major rivers, including the Suwannee, St. Johns and Apalachicola rivers. FDE organized and serves as the coordinator of the Withlacoochee River Alliance.

Conservation of Public Lands
FDE has long been involved in the management and conservation of public lands. FDE has worked to protect Osceola National Forest from mining and has worked to improve management of Ocala National Forest and several state parks. FDE played a key role in getting the former barge canal lands designated a greenway and managed for conservation. The corridor is named the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway in honor of one of FDE's founders.

Environmental Education

http://fladefenders.org/projects/ocklawaha-river-restoration/free-the-ocklawaha/