First ever Florida Tree Sit
February 15th, 2011 | 
Author: First-ever Florida Tree-Sit Erected to Defend Briger Forest Tract from Development
Everglades Earth First! activists Russ McSpadden and Rachel Kijewski took the issue of endangered species protection to new heights today! They are suspended 30 feet up in the air to protest the plans for development of the “FAU/Scripps Bio-tech City” on the Briger Forest Tract- the last living forest in Palm Beach County.
Law Enforcement with the Florida Department of Transportation and City of Palm Beach Gardens have promised to arrest the tree-sitters if they do not leave the sit. Both Russ and Rachel are holding tight!
A joint statement from the tree-sitters states, “As FAU graduates and Palm Beach County residents we are dismayed at the lack of protection for the Endangered Species on the FAU/Scripps development site. The Scripps “bio-tech city” plan promotes sprawl and will destroy endangered species located on the Briger Forest Tract. We have tried legal means to protect the site, but the developers and politicians have ignored our concerns. If the state and county refuse to protect endangered species then we must take action to preserve the remaining natural beauty of Florida.”
In conjunction with the tree sit, forty protesters converged at the existing FAU/Scripps Florida where Jupiter and FAU campus police briefly detained at least one person.
This will just be the first direct action of many to preserve the Briger Forest and the endangered species that depend on it. Everglades Earth First! activists plan to maintain a presence on the site to ensure no endangered species habitat is destroyed, and no animals are abused in the proposed vivisection labs.
Hoo-ray for Russ and Rachel! Stay tuned for more updates!
DONATE – to help us support the tree-sitters with future bail and legal costs! Donations can be made via Paypal to “lynnejpurvis@gmail.com”
HELP THE TREE-SIT – We will have an on-going vigil to ensure the safety of these brave activists. We can be reached by email or calling 561-249-2071
FOR MORE INFO on Scripps and the Briger Tract Forest check out Palm Beach Environmental Coalition
Posted in Equality
Thanks everyone! For protecting the planet!! You are most appreciated by so many and so many generations to come!
Thank you for doing what needs to be done to save one of the last remnants of what remains of the natural world. I’d like to see that forest someday. I think future residents of Florida will want to see it and experience it too.
A tree sit in Florida? Thank God someone in that state is fighting for the wild! Keep strong! Let’s keep biotech and the corporate ownership of life on the run!
What is the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
The Endangered Species Act is a law that was enacted in 1973 for this purpose:
1. To identify animals and plants that are in trouble.
2. To protect these plants and animal and their habitat.
Also, has anyone contacted FL Fish and Wildlife? Can they do anything to help?