For all of Southwest Florida’s problems (congestion, a troubled real-estate market, etc.), apathy about the environment doesn’t seem to be one of them.
According to a recent telephone poll by Audubon of Florida, 91 percent of Naples/Ft. Myers residents believe the concerns of wildlife, and not just people, need to be considered when planning for development and growth. Seventy-six percent of those polled added the natural environment is very important to the quality of their life.
Unfortunately, most of those questioned — a full 67 percent — said they also believe the natural environment in Southwest Florida is deteriorating, and that the region is growing too quickly. (It’s interesting to note that more residents here complained of overdevelopment than in other parts of Florida that are actually being built up faster.)
“The research shows that wildlife, clean water and open spaces are very important to the people who live here, which is why they are so sensitive to anything that unnecessarily threatens the environment,” said Brad Cornell, policy advocate for Audubon of Florida and the Collier County Audubon Society.
Taken between Feb. 27 and March 4, the random poll of 400 residents also focused on the status of the region’s wood stork and other threatened wildlife. Eight-nine percent of those questioned agreed that growth restrictions and more requirements on new developments could help protect the stork and other species.
“This proves that most people who live here in Southwest Florida believe that we need to balance growth with protections for water, woods and wildlife,” Cornell said. “They realize the wood stork is an indicator of the health of the wetlands that store our water and keep it clean. Protecting the stork habitat also protects our water and woods, and as the survey shows, that combined with better growth management is essential to our quality of life.”
