We hiked the USF Forest Preserve to show why it must be saved | Column
After our hike, we cannot understand how a university seemingly committed to the values of education, sustainability and its âprinciples of communityâ would propose developing the very land instrumental to such commitments.
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Cypress Creek flows over a sandy stream bed in the heart of the USF Forest Preserve. [CHRISTIAN BROWN] [ Courtesy of Christian Brown ]
Published 3 hours ago
On a humid April morning, our group of three biologists and an artist laced up hiking shoes and set off on an uncharted course through the 769-acre University of South Florida Forest Preserve. Nearly two weeks earlier, we had learned of USFâs plan to consider development of this natural laboratory and classroom. Still stunned, we felt compelled to undertake the five-mile hike along the Cypress Creek floodplain. How else could we showcase to the public what would be lost? So we grabbed our cameras and binoculars and trekked one wet step at a time.