State wants to open Big Cypress Addition for recreational use

State wants to open Big Cypress Addition for recreational use

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) adopted a resolution Wednesday, urging federal officials to open the 146,000-acre Big Cypress National Preserve Addition to a full range of public recreation.

The National Park Service and U.S. Department of the Interior are in the final stages of adopting a management plan that lays out what types of recreational use they will allow on the area. The FWC resolution emphasizes the U.S. Congress established the preserve and addition to provide traditional public recreation in addition to resource protection.

Also, the resolution urges the federal agencies to consult and cooperate with the FWC to provide recreational uses such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and motor vehicle access and ensure any associated restrictions are reasonable and justified.

"…the (FWC) strongly believes in making public lands as accessible as possible to the public for their use, education and enjoyment while maintaining fish and wildlife conservation values," the resolution reads.