I’m pleased to announce that USF interim President Rhea Law has officially stated that the university will not be pursuing any development plans and has ended the Request for Information (RFI) process. In other words, the USF Forest Preserve is safe from any immediate threats of development! I’d like to thank President Law for her careful considering of this issue. Although the fight to secure more permanent legal protection will continue, this is a big win for conservation in the Tampa Bay community and the state of Florida.

When I first started this petition last April, I couldn’t have imagined the attention and support it would receive. I’m so thankful to each and every one of you that signed and shared this petition and took part in our efforts this past year. I hope this accomplishment serves as inspiration for those that feel like they can’t make a difference, and a reminder that together we can do great things.

With that being said, this petition has served its purpose in highlighting the inherent value of the preserve and convincing USF leadership to end any plans for development. Permanent protection through a conservation easement is the next goal but must be adopted by the State of Florida. If you would like to continue supporting the USF Forest Preserve, you can follow the Friends of University Natural Areas at https://www.founa.org/

With appreciation,                                               Ryan Hurley