WEA Staff Serve on Faculty at Florida’s Largest Environmental Conference
Wiregrass Ecological Associates (WEA) staff presented as invited faculty at the 33rd Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island, Florida. The event, put on by the Florida Environmental Network, attracts more than 850 attorneys, consultants, officials, and landowners and is an excellent opportunity for professionals in a variety of fields to increase their knowledge on rules, regulations and ongoing projects in the environmental and ecological fields.
Austin D. Carroll and George Fullerton authored a presentation about the effects of Hurricane Michael on threatened and endangered species. Mr. Fullerton presented these findings during the “Successful Applications of Imperiled Species Management Practices” session. Hurricane Michael caused widespread damage throughout northwest Florida in 2018. This includes significant impacts to populations and/or habitat for gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and flatwoods salamanders. Through early action and continued management, natural resource professionals have sought to mitigate damages caused by this storm and develop strategies for recovery. This presentation documented findings from public and private land managers across the impacted areas and how these lessons can help improve resiliency in the future.
If you were unable to attend the conference or missed our presentation, please feel free to contact us at corporate@wiregrasseco.com with any questions or to request a copy.
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Mr. Carroll is the President of WEA and has served on the Environmental Permitting Summer School faculty for the last 10 years. He has extensive experience with imperiled species management and conservation across the Southeast. He currently serves as Program Manager for the Apalachicola National Forest Gopher Tortoise Research and Recipient Site.
Mr. Fullerton is a Wildlife Biologist who holds a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries from the University of Georgia and a MS in Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture from Auburn University. At WEA he works extensively with threatened and endangered species projects across the Southeast, dealing primarily with red-cockaded woodpeckers and gopher tortoises.