WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Constant changes in climate are directly affecting Florida's agriculture and forestry.
Read More »UF Panel Delves Into The Future Of Florida’s Farmlands Amid Climate Change
Gainesville Partners With UF For Environmental Study At Fred Cone Park
The research team has already completed an initial drone flyover to get a visual of the area being treated, plotted a grid, tested soil, sampled vegetation, applied herbicide and top dressed the field with compost.
Read More »Florida’s Largest Live Oak Protected Amid Gainesville’s Canopy Loss
From 1996 to 2016, Gainesville had lost 11 percent of its tree canopy. But green spaces like Cellon Oak Park, home to Florida's largest live oak, help keep biodiversity alive in the city.
Read More »Juniper Prairie Wilderness Reopens After Bear Activity Forced Closure
After being closed for a month, Juniper Prairie Wilderness in the Ocala National Forest is now open to the public during daylight. The closure came after increased bear activity. Overnight camping is still off limits after a bear attacked tents in the area.
Read More »LaCrosse Gets New Fire Engine After Month Without
The LaCrosse Fire Department went without a fire engine for the entire month of October before purchasing a new 2012 Pierce Dash engine.
Read More »Plans For Development Near Northwest Gainesville Walmart On Hold To Balance Environmental Interests
Potential rezoning would allow for single residential, multi-family residential, mixed-use development and conservation management areas on the site containing wetlands and nearly 1,200 acres of planted pines. But that rezoning may not happen anytime soon.
Read More »State Says Wildfires Likely To Get Worse
With the state battling 106 wildfires covering 124,000 acres as of Wednesday, Florida's top forestry official warned the fire season has yet to reach its peak.
Read More »Forest Service Uses Controlled Burns To Fight Ocala Wildfire
Two Ocala residents chose to flee their home Monday night after U.S. Forest Service officials conducted a controlled fire to stop the spread of the 67-acre Connor Wildfire in the Ocala National Forest. This technique, called a “burnout,” is used to regulate wildfires by burning surrounding vegetation and creating a …
Read More »For Trees Like Bert, Special Titles Do Not Always Guarantee Special Protections
The Florida Champion Tree Register recognizes the largest tree in the state of each noninvasive species. It's the next step of recognition up from heritage tree status, like that of Bert, the bluff oak that has affected plans for the Innovation Nexus Building at UF.
Read More »Bert The Bluff Oak Waits For Fate
A meeting will be held to decide on construction plans for the University of Florida’s Nuclear Sciences Building. After student and faculty voiced opposition over the potential removal of a 200-year-old oak tree named Bert, the architects were tasked with coming up with alternate plans that would spare the tree.
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