Friends of Split Oak Forest

We are a nonprofit dedicated to the integrity and health of Split Oak Forest, a wilderness park near Lake Nona in Central Florida.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

we had 14 observers who documented a total of 330 observations of 170 species all without Mary Keim and Randy Snyder's uploads.

Preliminarily, we have documented one new moss, one new wasp, two new moths, one new bug, and a new non-native fly.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

The BioBlitz window has closed and we wanted to thank everyone who took time out of their weekend to visit Split Oak and to log their observations! Though people can still add their observations for the bioblitz and may do so later,

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Please join us for our bioblitz this weekend! https://t.co/BvWJRNLA1X

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Split Oak has reopened after the Hurricane Milton. The management team was put on admin leave during the storm, assessed Split Oak for safety, removed downed trees on trails, and reopened the park yesterday afternoon.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

@dctblackwell @Scott_Maxwell Split Oak has many conservation easements on it held by a variety of agencies and deed restrictions held by the Florida Communities Trust, the removal / modification of which requires the consent of Orange County, Osceola County, and the FWC.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

@Matt_Fleming321 @Scott_Maxwell Great breakdown, thanks Matt.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

@aka_linskey @Scott_Maxwell There are many legally-binding documents, including conservation easements, mitigation, and deed restrictions held by the Florida Communities Trust - many are linked in our 'about Split Oak' article here: https://t.co/FSKfQa71nR

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Join us at @RockPitBrewing this Sunday afternoon for a few beers / cocktails (on @valerietheblond) and to view not-yet-seen art by Mary Nesler

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Fireflies in Split Oak during the Spring 2024 BioBlitz

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Please join the project and remember to manually add any threatened species to the project in case they're not automatically collected due to iNaturalist's automatic obscuring. We're getting together tomorrow morning for a plant blitz with @PineLilyFNPS

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Hello everyone! The bioblitz is starting in less than an hour! Please get out to the forest and post your observations!

Here's our project: https://t.co/oyvRgK9JvE

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

We are disappointed with the Orange Board of County Commissioners' decision on 4/9 to accept title to the swap land https://t.co/LCxQqM00K3

[Bruce Ritchie @bruceritchie]

Katrina Shadix of Bear Warriors United asks @myfwc to be more hands-on, gets no response:

"These are just a few examples of an inconvenient truth: Conservation easements don't work in Florida," she says, citing Split Oak Forest. "They are removed at will on a regular basis."

[Bruce Ritchie @bruceritchie]

Wow. @MyFWC Chair Rodney Barreto mentions Split Oak Forest, points out public thinks conservation easements mean land will be protected forever.

"It depends on the terms of the easement and it depends on the easement holders," deputy division director Jennifer Goff responded.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

The Orange BCC didn't take a vote today on Split Oak, they came to consensus that they were going to stand their ground on the charter & not accept the swap deal land. Our press conference before was well attended & we had a good set of speakers in support for public comment.

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Split Oak needs your emails *today*. Please take a moment out of your day to email the six Orange County commissioners and the mayor your support for Split Oak and opposition to the developer-backed land swap deal. https://t.co/aAYLspbjof

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

.@Bearlando has a new article out about a disturbing Orange County staff memo suggesting that Orange County's participation in removing Split Oak's protections can be waived https://t.co/soo414Nfdw @orlandosentinel

[Bruce Ritchie @bruceritchie]

Bill allows agencies, companies to seek legal fees for environmental permit challenges.

"Whoever is sponsoring that bill — why don't they just come out and admit they don't want there to be environmental regulation in Florida?" — lawyer Richard Grosso.

https://t.co/UT3Jksbiqh

[Florida Wildlife Federation @FlWildFed]

Thanks to everyone who supported #SplitOakForest! We delivered 1K signatures opposing the release of the conservation easement at yesterday's FWC Meeting.

While the result wasn't what we wanted, this fight is far from over. Read more & stay involved: https://t.co/FDsOfc7fAp

[Friends of Split Oak Forest @splitoakforest]

Split Oak will be considered after lunch.