Welcome to the Student Environmental Action Society Save Our Sanctuary Page. Please navigate the menu to the right to access more information on UWF SEAS and our SOS campaign.

UPDATE: S.E.A.S had a wonderful campaign, but unfortuatly the master plan is still underway with the 4-year plan. Just now the Voyager just updated information on what will happen to the Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary. Go and check out their news articles.

Background:

The current University Master Plan will be going through an update process where interested parties (athletics, housing, etc.) can suggest ideas and plans for incorporation into the updated plan. UWF athletics has created a visionary plan that they would like to see put into the updated Master plan. Part of their visionary plan calls for development on an area loosely defined as the UWF Baars-Firestone Wildlife Sanctuary. This area began as a trail only 300 feet long but now consists of just over 4 miles of trails in a “conservation” area of approximately 146 acres. Proposed development in this area includes a 3-hole golf course, driving range, IM fields and two parking lots.

Our Thoughts: (briefly)

The Student Environmental Action Society believes that there is no justification for any development in this area. It is not financially or environmentally responsible to propose such costly golf facilities when adequate accommodations are only 2.7 miles away, a 7 min. drive. UWF shares a property boundary with Scenic Hills Country Club, where the golf team currently practices. Three additional practice holes, in our opinion, are not needed for a team that won the NCAA national championship in 2008 (Men’s Golf) and 5 straight GSC championships (Women’s Golf 2006-2010). Also, to remove an area currently inhabited by many native plants and animals for another golf course is irresponsible. The potential nitrogen and phosphate run-off that will occur from fertilizer use alone will further damage the swamp corridors of the Escambia River. If all aspects of the Athletics visionary plan, except for development on the Baars-Firestone go through, 12 fields will be available to students on campus. We believe that it is not necessary to add more fields in a sanctuary if there are already 12 on campus!

Our Goals:

The Student Environmental Action Society wishes to:

• Inform the faculty, student body and community
• Prevent the development plans within the “Conservation” area to be incorporated into the new UWF Master Plan.
• Establish a permanent ban on development in the Sanctuary by defining it and other natural areas on campus as important natural areas.
  

Please click to sign the petition to save our sanctuary!

If you would like a paper petition please click here to download it. Please feel free to distribute and collect signatures. All complete petition forms should be sent to:
The Student Environmental Action Society
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway Pensacola, Fl
Building 13 Room 217