The Australian Pines at Fort Zach

Historic Fort's a Site for a Battle -- Over Trees

KEY WEST -- The military fortress named after President Zachary Taylor housed Union soldiers during the Civil War and served as coastal protection during the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II.

But the crumbling brick fort turned historic state landmark and park never hosted a real battle -- until now.

At stake: the fate of about 800 Australian pine trees that provide a canopy of shade and peaceful place for residents and tourists to enjoy the rocky beach and breathtaking sunsets.

Some have dubbed it "The Battle of the Tree Huggers."

On one side is the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which plans to continue its phased removal of the invasive exotic trees from Down Under. State biologists say the pines harm native species and wildlife, and say they will replace them with indigenous trees and vegetation.

On the other side is a passionate citizen brigade called Save Our Pines, which loves the precious green space as it has been for decades and is on a mission to "Stop the Massacre."

The two sides met last week in a packed room at the Harvey Government Center for a public workshop on the state park's updated draft management plan.

Read the rest of the article at RedOrbit.com...

An open letter to Governor Crist

I attended and spoke at a meeting hosted by the Florida Park Service Office of Park Planning here in Key West. It was a public input workshop for the proposed management plan for Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

The feedback given to the state representatives at this meeting was unified and overwhelming. We want the shaded area of the park along the southern shore returned to its original state — dense Australian pines — and the plans for increased concessions and shelters stopped immediately.

Over 100 park patrons attended the meeting to explain that we are not against progress, but we do not consider what is proposed to be an improvement. We think it is commercialism and destruction of the park's natural beauty. I respectfully challenge you to ask the Park Service director if a survey of this park's users indicates support for the management plan as currently proposed.

We are a small community at the end of the road. We do love our park, and we feel we have a pretty good idea what the vast majority of patrons want to see done with the park. I am therefore asking you to personally become involved in the review of this proposed plan. I ask you to direct the elimination of any further development in the pines area until local support for such development is obtained. I am also requesting that you facilitate the granting of an exception to the guiding principles for state park management, as they apply to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. This exception would reverse the destruction of the pines, and promote their controlled maintenance.

Bill Hunter
Key West

From Key West Citizen Oct 24, 2007

Shade Trees Removed

Once again the Army Corps of Engineers is trying to pull the wool over the public's eyes (Historic Key West fort's a site for a battle -- over trees, Oct. 22). The Corps used the same lame excuses to remove Australian pines from the levee around Lake Okeechobee, promising to replace them with native trees.

Where are the new trees? The Corps seems to have plenty of money to remove trees and none to replace them. The shade provided by the pines is much better than a wasteland of barren rock. Much of South Florida is nonnative, including the people.

RICHARD PERSSON
Miami

From Miami Herald, Oct. 24, 2007

Protect What You Have...

Click here to read more...

Public Meeting Monday Night:

Don't miss the public meeting which will be held at the Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave. at 7:00 pm, Monday, October 15th.

This is the opportunity for the general public to review the draft of the park's Unit Management Plan and provide feedback.

Monday, Oct. 15

7 pm

Harvey Government Center
1200 Truman Avenue

Click here to read a follow-up article written by George Ball. For anyone interested in the discussion between natives vs. exotics, this is a must-read!