About the Osceola Side of the Save Split Oak Forest Campaign
The Save Split Oak Campaign is spearheaded by a coalition of dedicated volunteers committed to maintaining conservation area protections to safeguard the Split Oak Forest forever. Recently, we have initiated an Osceola organizing branch to intensify efforts on the Osceola County side of this crucial work. The campaign is grassroots and volunteer-driven, with no funding from private interests. Our new Organizing Manager, Bob Stein, is actively recruiting residents to join this important cause.
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About Bob:
Bob Stein is a retired Emergency Department Registered Nurse and Healthcare Administrator with a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from the Medical College of Virginia. An avid hiker and geocacher, he currently serves as the Organizing Manager for the Save Split Oak Osceola advocacy group, where he works to engage diverse communities in preserving Split Oak Forest, local parks, conservation lands, and the rural character of Osceola County, FL. Bob also aims to drive political change by supporting conservation-minded candidates. He lives in Saint Cloud, FL, with his service dog, Madison.
Tavistock, Deseret Ranch and Osceola County all working together.
Split Oak Forest is just the beginning.
Deseret Ranch, sprawling across nearly 300,000 acres in Central Florida, is one of the largest and most productive cattle ranches in the United States. Spanning parts of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard counties, it is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beyond its extensive cow-calf operations, the ranch is also engaged in citrus farming and various other agricultural ventures.
In contrast, the Save Split Oak Forest campaign is a dedicated conservation effort fighting to protect the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area from threats posed by proposed infrastructure projects like the Osceola Parkway Extension. The proposed toll road, which aims to boost development and improve transportation links between the Northeast District and North Ranch, cuts through the forest, posing a significant threat to its ecological integrity.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority, along with other stakeholders, supports this toll road to facilitate urban development, including areas owned by Deseret Ranch. However, conservationists argue that this would result in severe environmental damage, disrupting wildlife habitats and depleting natural resources.
The Save Split Oak Forest campaign stands firmly against such developments, emphasizing the need to preserve conservation lands from urban sprawl and infrastructure projects. They advocate for protecting the forest’s ecological balance and preventing exploitation for development purposes, highlighting the broader implications of such actions on Florida’s natural heritage.
Split Oak Forest is just the beginning.
Deseret Ranch, sprawling across nearly 300,000 acres in Central Florida, is one of the largest and most productive cattle ranches in the United States. Spanning parts of Osceola, Orange, and Brevard counties, it is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beyond its extensive cow-calf operations, the ranch is also engaged in citrus farming and various other agricultural ventures.
In contrast, the Save Split Oak Forest campaign is a dedicated conservation effort fighting to protect the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area from threats posed by proposed infrastructure projects like the Osceola Parkway Extension. The proposed toll road, which aims to boost development and improve transportation links between the Northeast District and North Ranch, cuts through the forest, posing a significant threat to its ecological integrity.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority, along with other stakeholders, supports this toll road to facilitate urban development, including areas owned by Deseret Ranch. However, conservationists argue that this would result in severe environmental damage, disrupting wildlife habitats and depleting natural resources.
The Save Split Oak Forest campaign stands firmly against such developments, emphasizing the need to preserve conservation lands from urban sprawl and infrastructure projects. They advocate for protecting the forest’s ecological balance and preventing exploitation for development purposes, highlighting the broader implications of such actions on Florida’s natural heritage.
What Are We Organizing
Our mission in Osceola is clear:
We must elect grassroots candidates to the Osceola County Commission who are committed to conservation and fighting harmful urban sprawl. We kick off this effort with our robust endorsement program, ensuring that only those who truly believe in preserving our natural environment get our backing.Next on our agenda is advocating for a rural boundary charter amendment to protect Osceola’s rural character and prevent unchecked development.
We’re building a passionate team to lead this charge and need your help! Sign up today to join our organizing efforts and make a real impact in Osceola County. Together, we can protect the Split Oak Forest and preserve our community’s natural beauty for future generations.
We must elect grassroots candidates to the Osceola County Commission who are committed to conservation and fighting harmful urban sprawl. We kick off this effort with our robust endorsement program, ensuring that only those who truly believe in preserving our natural environment get our backing.Next on our agenda is advocating for a rural boundary charter amendment to protect Osceola’s rural character and prevent unchecked development.
We’re building a passionate team to lead this charge and need your help! Sign up today to join our organizing efforts and make a real impact in Osceola County. Together, we can protect the Split Oak Forest and preserve our community’s natural beauty for future generations.
