“The protection of water resources is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. That’s why today I’m taking immediate action to combat the threats which have devastated our local economies and threatened the health of our communities.” – Ron DeSantis, 46th Governor of Florida, on new legislation concerning Florida’s Regional Water Supply Plans (RWSPs)… Continue reading Florida’s Regional Water Supply Plans
State of Manatees If you have spent any time on or around Florida’s waterways, then you may have come across the Florida Manatee. The Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a keystone species for the state. What exactly does that mean? A keystone species is an organism that plays a vital role in an ecosystem.… Continue reading How to Create a Safe Space for Manatees
“Mycorrhizal fungal networks are a major global carbon sink. When we destroy them, we sabotage our efforts to limit global heating”. For many years the world has been looking for solutions to solve the climate crisis. Significant research has been conducted to find solutions to global warming, but this time, the result is beyond all… Continue reading What if mushrooms are the panacea that we have been looking for to solve the climate crisis?
On November 19th, 2021, the House passed the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) with a close 220 to 213 vote.1 Now that the BBBA is onto the Senate, let’s look at what the bill contains for fighting the climate crisis as it proposes a total of $555 billion in clean energy and climate investments.2 PHOTO… Continue reading All About The Build Back Better Act
Duckweed is the focus of this Florida Native Plant Spotlight. When we think of ways in which we can help the environment we often overlook some of the smallest plant tools to make an environmental change. Common amongst most bodies of freshwater around the world it is becoming increasingly popular when it comes to the… Continue reading Florida Native Plant Spotlight: Duckweed
Coral reefs, the “rain forests of the sea,” are a vital part of the biodiversity seen on this planet. Because, these large structures are home to many diverse species who depend on them for survival. What is Coral Bleaching? Coral bleaching is the process of coral expelling the symbiotic zooxanthellae (algae) living in their tissues1.… Continue reading Coral Bleaching: Why It’s An Issue and Ways to Stop It
The ecology of Orlando is vast and intertwined in a very fragile manner. Just outside of Orlando, Florida lies 1,650 acres of land dedicated to hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and most importantly advanced water treatment. The regular visitor may be surprised to know the Orlando Wetlands is one aspect of City of Orlando’s elaborate water… Continue reading The Ecology of the Orlando Wetlands
IDEAS For Us installed a beautiful Pollinator Garden on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at the Hindu Society of Central Florida. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who came out to help! IDEAS For Us is advancing sustainability around the world by empowering communities to implement local solutions to global environmental problems, such as this… Continue reading Pollinator Garden at the Hindu Society of Central Florida
Toxic Algae in Your Florida Pond: How to Stop It Toxic algae in your Florida pond. Cypress trees, canna lilies, duckweed, eelgrass, and algae. Turtles lounging on the shore, and a white heron keeps watch. Sounds pristine and perhaps a somewhat rare scene in HOA communities, and business areas, right? Ponds covered with algae and… Continue reading Toxic Algae in Your Florida Pond: How to Stop It
As a Floridan it’s not unusual to see bodies of water on your commute to work, walking through your neighborhood or even by/on your school’s campus. It’s most likely that these small waterways are man-made structures put in place to maintain stormwater runoff. In other words, these waterways are more than likely a retention pond.… Continue reading Let’s Re-Think Retention Ponds
