Miccosukee Tribe and WildLandscapes International aim to end oil drilling in Big Cypress by negotiating mineral rights with the Collier family, who owns most of the mineral rights in the preserve.
The proposed deal may halt expansion plans by a Texas company and includes a multi-phase approach to relinquish rights to federal government in about 465,000 acres.
Despite minimal oil production, environmental concerns persist over drilling impacts on the Everglades ecosystem and water sources.
Key quote:
“We have a lot of ceremonial grounds that have been in Big Cypress National Preserve, burial grounds, places where we gather our traditional medicine. So just seeing that sort of damage in a place that really matters to us a lot, it’s sad to see it.”
— Talbert Cypress, chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
Why this matters:
The Everglades, a vital ecosystem and water source, face threats from climate change and urban development.Further oil exploration might imperil both environmental sustainability and the cultural heritage of the Miccosukee Tribe.
