South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
http://www.sfrestore.org

Office of the Executive Director
c/o Florida International University, OE Building, Room 165
Miami, Florida 33199

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:  4-9-03

   Contacts:   Beth Miller-Tipton, Conference Coordinator, (352)-392-5930
                    Bernadette Morris (305) 948-8063 (office); or (305)-450-0942 (mobile)

JOINT CONFERENCE ON THE SCIENCE AND RESTORATION EFFORTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM SET FOR APRIL 13 - 18

Physical, biological and social scientists will gather with Everglades natural resource managers for a Joint Conference on the Science and Restoration of the Greater Everglades and Florida Bay Ecosystem - From Kissimmee to the Keys from April 13 - 18, 2003, at the Westin Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida.  This is the first time that the Florida Bay and Adjacent Marine Systems Science Conference and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) Science Conference have joined forces to provide a combined forum for the exchange of information among scientists. "The joint conference will bring together scientists, engineers, managers, and regulators who are actively involved in all aspects of Everglades restoration. The conference will provide an exciting opportunity for participants to share strategies and techniques for improving the overall quality of the South Florida ecosystem," said Dr. Ronnie Best, conference organizer and coordinator, Greater Everglades Science Program for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  "Attendees will participate in an interdisciplinary forum focused on reviewing research, monitoring and management activities related to Greater Everglades restoration. Participants will also be asked to help formulate approaches and goals for restoration."

The objectives of the conference are to provide an opportunity to share Greater Everglades science, to review and discuss models and decision support tools relevant to restoration, and to more closely link science to the needs of restoration managers and decision makers.  Keynote presenters include:
 · Terrence "Rock" Salt, Executive Director, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, Miami, FL
 · Colonel Greg May - District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Jacksonville, FL
 · Henry Dean - Executive Director, South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL
 · Kenneth G. Haddad - Executive Director, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL
 · Charles Groat - Director, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, and
 · Michael V. Martin - Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Conference workshops include South Eastern Coastal Ecosystems; Role of Flow in the Greater Everglades; The Marine Ecosystems of the Florida Keys; Wetland and Treatment Areas; and Social and Human Systems, among others. Other highlights of the conference include networking receptions, exhibit booths, and more. The GEER Science Conference, coordinated and sponsored by the Task Force's Science Coordination Team, features participation from a host of organizations including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and Working Group, U. S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of the Interior, South Florida Water Management District, Everglades National Park, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Broward County Department of Environmental Protection. Additional participants include representatives of numerous universities from Florida and the southeast U.S. Registration costs for the Conference are $375 for meeting attendees, $275 for students and spouses/guests, and $125 for children age twelve and under.  To register, contact Beth Miller-Tipton, Conference Coordinator at (352) 392-5930, or register online at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/jc
 

WHAT:  Joint Conference on the Science and Restoration of the Greater Everglades and Florida Bay Ecosystem - From Kissimmee to the Keys

WHO:   Persons interested in Everglades Ecosystem Restoration including physical, biological and social scientists and environmentalists

WHEN:   April 13 - 18, 2003

WHERE:   Westin Innisbrook
                Palm Harbor, Florida (25 miles from Tampa)
                http://www.westin-innisbrook.com/

CONTACT: Beth Miller-Tipton
    University of Florida/IFAS - Office of Conference & Institutes (OCI)
    T: (352) 392-5930

MEDIA NOTE:  ALL MEDIA PLANNING TO ATTEND SHOULD CONTACT BERNADETTE MORRIS OR TANISHA COLEMAN AT 305-948-8063.

2003  South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force          

Related links

Conference home page
http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/jc
 

Internal UM page for conference