Feds halt Walmart construction plans to protect endangered species

Environmentalists want to protect threatened species, endangered plants

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently sent a letter to Ram Realty Services ordering the Walmart to stop work until a habitat survey is completed. The project plan also includes an LA Fitness, Chik-fil-A, Chili's and about 900 apartments. This was a victory to infuriated environmentalist. 

University of Miami sold the 88-acre parcel earlier this month for $22 million to Ram Realty Services. The Development Company plans to build a Walmart, as well as restaurants and apartments.

Tropical Audubon, a non-profit conservation group based in South Miami, has been fighting to save land linked to Pine Rockland forest, north of Zoo Miami.

"Excellent news," Tropical Audubon posted on Facebook.

The environmentalists said the property was home to eight threatened species, as well as two endangered plants.

They created an online petition titled "Save The Endangered Forest Lands Sold to Walmart in South Florida" on MoveOn.org that had close to 5,000 signatures Friday afternoon.

Ram Realty Services Chairman, Peter Cummings, released a statement to Local 10 News. 

"We plan to meet with service authorities over the coming weeks to discuss the timing and scope of their desired survey. We will take no action that disturbs the natural environment before resolving the service's concerns" - Peter Cummings

Cummings said the company were working with Coral Reef Commons and scientists from Zoo Miami, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden and the Institute for Regional Conservation to relocate vulnerable species.

Bill Wertz, a Walmart spokesman, also said that the company will continue to work with the "conservation community and regulatory agencies to ensure the nearly 50-acre nature preserve it has set aside provides protection to South Florida wildlife."