Environment

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

Alachua County initiatives work to protect land from increasing development

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 19

In Alachua County, more than 30,000 acres have been protected under similar land agreements. In January, the trust facilitated an agreement with a 550-acre dairy farm in Gilchrist County. The farm has been owned for multiple generations by the Watson family, who will receive $1.54 million through the easement. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Plastic pollution in Florida is about to become easier

By Cayman Forbes | Feb. 5

Local governments such as Gainesville have made significant progress towards protecting our environment from pollution like single-use plastics. Bans exist all over Florida, so items like plastic water bottles don’t end up in our springs, rivers and oceans. 

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

Gambling revenue may be used for Florida’s environment under new bill

By Kylie Williams | Jan. 29

In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The compact provided the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights in running gambling activities on tribal lands. In exchange, the tribe agreed to give $2.5 billion of its revenue to the state for the first five years the compact is in place.  Under SB 1638, 96% of these annual funds would go to Florida’s environmental resources. 

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

North central Florida farmers, experts find new ways to combat citrus greening

By Kylie Williams | Jan. 8

Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, has ravaged the citrus industry in Florida over the past two decades. Since the disease was first detected in 2005, it has reduced citrus production by over 75% and cost the industry billions of dollars in lost revenue.  Researchers have studied the disease for decades but have yet to find a lasting solution to citrus greening. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

UF's fossil gas plant proposal

By Shauna Junco | Dec. 5

The data are clear: when it comes to preventing extreme heat in our lifetimes, the energy supply choices being made today matter. Fortunately, not only can UF supply its own energy sustainably, it already has a roadmap for how to do it.

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NEWS  |  SFC

‘Holiday at Santa Fe’ brings winter cheer to Santa Fe College

By Bailey Diem | Dec. 3

Gainesville residents of all ages filled the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall Dec. 2, learning about animals and summoning snow alongside Santa Claus, Frosty and Perry the Mouse.

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METRO

Changing climate, changing gardens

By Claire Grunewald | Nov. 13

Community gardens, like the Grace Grows Garden, are green spaces in neighborhoods and towns for residents to grow their own plants and vegetables. These gardens can reduce urban heat islands, provide ecosystem services, increase stormwater retention and support food security, according to the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

UF hosts first round of Lake Alice watershed management workshops

By Kylie Williams | Oct. 9

Watershed management workshops are the first step in an initiative to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan with Lake Alice in mind. Sixty percent of all stormwater on UF’s campus drains into the lake, which has suffered a long history of mismanagement and poor infrastructure. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Hurricane Idalia leaves Alachua County mostly unscathed, slams Big Bend region

By Kylie Williams | Sep. 5

As Florida’s Big Bend communities recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Idalia, the Alachua County community is grateful to not have met the storm's eye. Alachua County suffered minor damages. Several trees and power lines came down across Gainesville, and some roadways were blocked.

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SPANISH

UF research initiative partners with two other universities to reach Hispanic citizens

By Nicole Beltran | Aug. 28

UF assistant professor Hance Ellington's survey plans to address the issues most important to Florida’s Hispanic residents. It is also the first comprehensive needs assessment survey in Florida to focus exclusively on Hispanic communities.

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SPANISH

Iniciativa de investigación de la UF se junta con otras dos universidades para colaborar con los ciudadanos hispanos

By Nicole Beltran | Aug. 28

Para profesor asistente de la UF, Hance Ellington, comprender qué cuestiones ambientales (como la silvicultura, el cambio climático y la biodiversidad) son más apremiantes para un estado con una gran población hispana es una cuestión que requiere más representación.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Gainesville artists create with environmental consciousness

By Zarin Ismail | Apr. 17, 2023

Many creatives in Gainesville  have taken sustainability into account by upcycling used items into art pieces, trading materials or promoting a connection to nature. As global temperatures continue to rise, some artists have begun centering their creative processes around preventing environmental ruin to slow climate change.

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THE AVENUE

North Dakotan writer, environmentalist Taylor Brorby to visit UF

By Zarin Ismail | Feb. 20, 2023

Taylor Brorby, an environmentalist and University of Utah instructor will visit the UF Smathers Library Tuesday at 7 p.m. to talk about his 2022 memoir, “Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land,” which explores issues regarding queerness, the environment and extractive economies through his own experiences.

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METRO

Gainesville’s bee city status promises pollinator benefits

By Aubrey Bocalan | Feb. 13, 2023

The Gainesville City Commission voted to become a bee city in 2022 and was officially granted the designation Jan. 25 by the Xerces Society, a group committed to insect conservation. 

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METRO

UF students ‘not completely relieved’ after attending COP27

By Fernando Figueroa | Dec. 1, 2022

Campus Climate Corps, a joint effort of student volunteers to help address climate change, held weekly briefings breaking down what occurred during COP27. The event was hosted by Rock Aboujaoude, a UF graduate student, and had presentations by UF faculty, students and scientists. 

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METRO

Furniture excess contributes to landfill waste, students weigh cheap, eco-friendly alternatives

By Fernando Figueroa | Sep. 6, 2022

Many movers aren’t aware of the environmental impact their choice to throw out furniture has, with bulk items packing landfills. In a city with a frequent base of students moving in and out of furnished and unfurnished apartments, strategies like furniture recycling and thrifting have become popular Gainesville options. 

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METRO  |  POLITICS

Alachua chosen for federal support to revitalize energy efficiency

By Lucille Lannigan | Apr. 13, 2022

Alachua county was chosen to participate in the US Department of Energy’s Communities Local Energy Action Program at the end of March — a huge leap in the direction of equitable sustainability. The county is one of 22 participating communities and the only Florida recipient to participate in the program, which aims to help low-income and energy-burdened communities experiencing environmental justice or economic impacts.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

Renewable energy could save UF millions of dollars

By Lucille Lannigan | Mar. 9, 2022

A new analysis suggests UF could transition to renewable, cheaper energy and save $100 million, rather than move forward with its current more expensive plan to construct a gas plant.  The Rocky Mountain Institute, an environmentalist think tank, presented its analysis to a group of climate scientists, retired professors and Matt Williams, UF’s sustainability director, on Wednesday. It found UF can save money by using clean energy to achieve its energy needs while protecting the natural environment.

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OPINIONS

State legislators should act now to change Florida’s climate future

Feb. 7, 2022

Here in Gainesville, we trust the science, and it tells us climate change is real. Roughly 92% of Floridians agree — they know climate change is real, too. That’s because we’re paying higher electric bills from record heat waves and skyrocketing insurance from stronger hurricanes and increased flooding. 

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METRO

Retirement community installs first solar panels in shift toward sustainability

By Phong Huynh | July 21, 2021

Oak Hammock Retirement Community will become the first continuing care retirement community in Florida to shift toward sustainable energy. Its first solar panel was installed in front of residents and project managers Tuesday morning.