WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
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 »State Says Wildfires Likely To Get Worse
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.
Read More »UF Students, Staff Attempt To Save Heritage Trees
The people behind a social media campaign that took root over night are celebrating a little victory for a very big tree. After discovering a unique tree on the University of Florida's campus is scheduled for removal because of construction, a group of students and faculty rallied to save it.
Read More »Local Power Plant Receives National Forest Certification
The Gainesville Renewable Energy Center received the Forest Stewardship Council’s chain-of-custody certification on Oct. 28. GREC is the first power plant in the country to receive this certification.
Read More »Florida Organic Growers sponsors petition for 2012 Farm Bill
The election season may be over, but there are still ways that Floridians can make their voices heard in Washington, D.C.
Read More »Smoky conditions persist from Marion County flare up
Though the fire in Orange Springs is 100% contained, fire fighters remain on the scene to monitor the area. Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond says the fire that started two weeks ago flared up yesterday, but fire fighters managed to keep the surrounding area safe. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/03/Bond4.mp3] Due to excessive smoke, …
Read More »Footage shows fire and smoke still dangerous on highways near Gainesville
Video and a photo gallery from the aftermath of Sunday's deadly multi-vehicle crash on I-75.
Read More »Low visibility once again shuts down both lanes of U.S. 441 and I-75 in parts of Alachua County
The Florida Highway Patrol has closed parts of Interstate 75 and U.S. 441 this morning because of low visibility in the same area where 10 people died in a multiple-vehicle crash early Sunday. Drivers are encouraged to call 511 for highway information. In addition to the 10 fatalities on Sunday at least 18 …
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