Bob Graham's legacy of environmental protection

Florida Matters

In this episode, we’re talking about Bob Graham’s environmental legacy - including his efforts to protect wild places like the Everglades and other waterways - and wildlife, like the manatee. Bob Graham knew how to rally people to a cause, no matter their political affiliation. He died this month at the age of 87. The Democrat from South Florida had a profound influence on state politics during his two terms as governor, and later as a U.S. senator. As governor, Bob Graham helped usher in the Save Our Rivers program, the Wetlands Protection Act, the Growth Management Act, and the Save Our Everglades program. In this episode we talk with Jake Varn and Victoria Tschinkel, who both served as secretary of the Department of Environmental Regulation when Bob Graham was governor of Florida. We also hear from the executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, Pat Rose. Graham formed the club- initially as the Save the Manatee Committee- in 1981 with singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett.