SWFL conservationists win court fight over endangered panther habitat

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—Environmental activists are celebrating a new court decision that could reshape how developers get permits in Florida.

Last week, a federal appeals court sided with local conservation groups in a battle over wetlands permitting.

The court ruled Friday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violated federal law in 2020 by allowing Florida to handle wetlands permits instead of federal agencies. Conservation groups argued that the state will fast-track development that could threaten endangered species, like the Florida panther.

"How can the panther survive? Not just thrive, but survive with all of these projects going through the process," said Nicole Johnson, environmental policy director for Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The appeals court agreed with conservationists, finding the state's permitting program "enabled Florida and the recipients of its permits to evade the [Endangered Species Act] exacting procedures for protecting listed species."

Johnson is with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, one of the groups that sued over the change. The conservancy points to massive development projects planned for Lee and Collier counties, including the multi-thousand-home Bellmar project near the state's panther national wildlife refuge.

"The issue of whether we need to have all these new towns and villages at the rate they are being approved is a legitimate question. Are we growing too fast?" Johnson said.

"When it comes to protecting the panther, the location element is really, really key," she said.

Percy Angelo, conservation chair for Friends of Cape Haze in Charlotte County, has been on the frontline of the conservation fight for more than 50 years. He first worked with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and now works with Friends of Cape Haze.

"I think it's terrific," Angelo said.

Angelo said the court decision is an important step to protect part of what makes Florida special.

"If we live in an area like this, we have to make sure that we protect what's important about it," he said.

"When citizens are willing to stand up and stick up for the environment, it's a wonderful thing," Angelo said.

WINK News reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida said it expects the state and federal governments to appeal.