The ripple effect from our recession continues to unravel important conservation programs around the state. The latest? Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. With a shrinking tax base, the county commission is looking at drastic cuts to the EEL program, including immediately ceasing all land purchases, laying off half the staff, severely limiting operating hours at nature centers, and potential closing up to 2/3 of the hiking trails on EEL lands due to lack of trail maintainers.

Now’s the time for the community to step forward. Brevard taxpayers voted for EEL, and Brevard nature-lovers, hikers and birders and wildlife watchers, should join forces to provide volunteer support to keep EEL nature centers and hiking trails open. Perhaps the local Florida Trail Association chapter could coordinate such an effort?

Learn more about what’s in store for Brevard’s natural lands in today’s Florida Today.

Thanks to Florida Hikes member Barbara Bowen, a new forum-within-a-forum has emerged on the website, providing expert-to-hiker feedback on Florida Trail segments.

If you’re a trail maintainer or section leader, or a local who has recent knowledge of a specific segment of the Florida Trail, please raise your hand to be on the “Experts” list.

If you’re a hiker planning a thru-hike or section hiking for the upcoming season, drop by and ask your questions! If this turns out to be the best way to connect the knowledgeable to the wanting-to-know, it’ll end up with its own little niche on Florida Hikes!

I appreciate this approach that Barbara suggested, since I’ve been personally unable - due to work and family issues - to make a new edition of the Official Guide / Companion Guide happen in time for thru-hiker season. I think having connections directly with the people who walk their section of the trail all the time works better than me collecting and curating that information. So … let the exchange begin!

For those who have asked: yes, there will be a new book. Just not yet. My apologies.

Changes in staffing and organization have been afoot at the Florida Trail Association recently. Since I’ve seen no written confirmation of what’s going on, I haven’t shared the buzz, but this announcement on the North Florida Trailblazers chapter website alerts members to a board meeting being held in Gainesville this Saturday.

As a former staff member of FTA, I’m waiting for the official word on what’s up via the FTA website or the Footprint before I share it here. But if you’re interested in attending the meeting to find out more about the future direction of FTA, members are always welcome.

One of the Miami area’s premiere nature walks is pure heaven for macro photographers, with a high density of tree snails,  butterflies, and tropical trees. Take a virtual walk down Castellow Hammock’s nature trail!

Closed due to a military plane crash in the area two weekends ago, the Yearling Trail has reopened, as has access to the Florida Trail via the Pat’s Island trailhead. Hikers are advised that either may close sporadically as cleanup crews continue to scour the area; if closures occur, they will be posted at the trailheads.