Florida Environmental Advocacy

As a Biology Professor and long-time Tropical Audubon member, I owe a huge debt to the legion of dedicated ecosystem defenders. Among these, Laura Reynolds stands out in particular. I don’t know anyone who has effectively advanced a broader array of South Florida’s environmental issues than Laura has. Laura played a key role at the Tropical Audubon Society, devoting a decade to regional conservation and science activism, and placing the Miami Audubon chapter on the list of hyper-effective environmental groups. Some people wondered why a bird-centric organization would work so hard on complex energy issues, but Laura made it clear to the public that our ecosystem starts and ends with clean water and the human processes that compete for it. Laura directed a bright spotlight on how unbridled development and energy production conflict with protection Florida’s natural waters, from the Everglades to Florida Bay. Her passion and knowledge of water issues created never-ending ripples through the environmental and political worlds as her cadre of interns graduated to become change-makers in the environmental community.

Laura Reynolds is a dedicated environmentalist, and her passion is based on science, knowledge and reason. For more than a decade, she has been a leader in advocating for sound public policy that puts our habitat, climate, land and water at the forefront. She understands that our human capacity to survive and thrive depends on how wisely we treat our natural resources, and she is able to communicate those messages to those who need to hear them.

I am the president of the Florida Keys Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America and the president of the Florida Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, and a national director of the Izaak Walton League of America. From 1998 until 2001, I was president of Friends of the Everglades, and I’ve been working on South Florida issues for over 40 years. For many years, while she was the Executive Director of Tropical Audubon, I worked with Laura Reynolds on a variety of issues, from Biscayne Bay to Port of Miami, Pineland protection, Virginia Key and Everglades Restoration.

She has been a clear voice for conservation of our fragile natural resources, and a leader in mustering support for protecting those priceless assets. Recently, we have joined with Laura to help the Southeastern Alliance for Clean Energy work for improvements in our energy system. I look forward to working with Laura in the future.

Laura Reynolds has been devoted and tenacious advocate for the South Florida environment. Laura has a wide-ranging “network” of persons, both locally and nationally, who look to her for guidance in the area in conservation. Her dedication to the environment has been inspirational to all.