ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
The Environmental Planning Division is a highly interdisciplinary team that plays a critical role in safeguarding Tribal resources, ensuring sustainable development and promoting ecological integrity. This division is dedicated to integrating environmental considerations into all phases of planning to support Tribal interests, including land use and management of Tribal-trust resources on and off the Reservations.
Duties performed by the Environmental Planning Division are implemented through the Seminole Tribe’s Wildlife Conservation Plan (WCP), a comprehensive book of conservation guidelines approved by Tribal Council, as well as associated Tribal policies. The WCP provides survey and monitoring protocols for all threatened and endangered species that have the potential to occur on Tribal lands. The Environmental Planning Division is integral to balance the Tribe’s growth and development with the vision of sustaining Tribal resources for future generations.
Mission
To balance wildlife and natural resource conservation through thoughtful planning aligned with Tribal interests that recognize how the Seminole Tribe and its members are connected to the ecosystem.
Program Tasks
- Implementation and development of the Tribe’s Wildlife Conservation Plan
- Protected species monitoring and regulations
- Tribal sovereignty advocacy
- Pre-construction surveys and gopher tortoise relocations
- Large scale wetland and surface water jurisdictional determinations
- Environmental set-asides
- Land use datasets
- Development of management, response, and Tribal trust resource plans
- Tribal environmental policy
- Environmental support for Tribal land acquisitions
Informational WILDLIFE Brochures
Key Projects
- Continued development of the Tribe's Wildlife Conservation Plan
- Traditional use facilitation
- Work with the tribal community to identify sensitive/protected areas to integrate into planning
- Protected species monitoring
- Level 1 habitat mapping for new Tribal-Trust lands
- Protected Species Response Plans
- Pre-construction wildlife surveys and monitoring
Contacts
Mandy D'Andrea, Interdisciplinary Biologist II
Tribal-wide, based in Big Cypress
Maria Newsome, Interdisciplinary Biologist I
Tribal-wide, based in Hollywood
wildlife conservation PLAN (UPDATE PENDING):
The Seminole Tribe of Florida's Wildlife Conservation Plan (WCP) guides the protection and management of threatened and endangered species that have the potential to occur on tribal lands. Approved by Tribal Council and in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the WCP provides support to conserve culturally and ecologically important species while balancing responsible land use and long-term environmental stewardship for future generations. The Environmental Planning Program is responsible for the continued development and enhancement of the plan to support tribal interests.
REPORT Wildlife HERE
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING: Photos/Highlights
Gopher tortoise observed during pre-project field work, Big Cypress Reservation.
Environmental Planning staff deploys an acoustic detector to monitor the endangered Florida bonneted bat, Big Cypress Native Area.
Environmental Planning staff conducts aerial habitat monitoring, Big Cypress Reservation.
Audubon's crested caracara observed as part of annual monitoring, Big Cypress Reservation.
Bald eagle observed as part of annual monitoring, Brighton Reservation.
Environmental Planning Staff inspects a gopher tortoise as part of relocation process, Brighton Reservation.
Environmental Planning Staff conducts a habitat quality assessment, Big Cypress Reservation.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE
Dr. Paul N. Backhouse
Environmental Resources Department
Whitney Sapienza | Director
Department of Conservation
Dr. Craig van der Heiden | Director
External Environmental Compliance
Stacy Myers | Director
Water Resources
Alfonso Tigertail | Director
PHONE
(954) 966-6300
ADDRESS
1601 NW 136th Avenue,
Suite A100, Sunrise, FL 33323