Choke Point Premiere

810 East Skagway Avenue,Tampa FL 33604

08 June, 2021

Description

Join us for a special screening of Luke Myer's documentary, Choke Point. This film follows three University of South Florida biologists as they work to highlight the importance of the USF Forest Preserve and fight to prevent its destruction. Located north of Fletcher Ave, the USF Northern Property, which includes USF Riverfront Park, USF Forest Preserve, and “The Claw” Golf Course, protects over 600 acres of imperiled sandhill and wetland ecosystems and nearly two dozen endangered or threatened plant and animal species. More than 400 native plant species can be found within the USF Forest Preserve, along with and estimated 194 bird species, 31 reptile species, bobcats, otters, fox squirrels, white-tailed deer, and countless other wildlife. For decades, the Preserve has functioned as a core research facility and natural classroom for many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. The entire property serves as a critical link in a wildlife corridor that joins the Cypress Creek floodplain to the Green Swamp. This land also contains significant Indigenous cultural heritage sites, including a pre-Columbian village site and numerous burial sites. On April 1st, 2021, USF quietly released a Request for Information (RFI) for development proposals on their 769-acre Northern Property. Save the USF Forest Preserve was created by USF graduate students to oppose any measure that would diminish or destroy the ecosystems, Indigenous heritage sites, or educational opportunities within the Forest Preserve and to push for permanent protections on the land in the form of a conservation easement. Despite enormous public outcry from faculty, students, and the Tampa Bay community, USF has refused to rescind their RFI and has not meaningfully engaged with faculty and students concerning their resounding call for the preservation of the land. If you would like to take action or learn more about our initiative, please visit our website at saveusfforestpreserve.com.