Michelle Z Walker

Last year four explorers took an epic journey through the Florida outdoors. They traveled the entire length of the state to raise public awareness for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a vision to connect what remains of the natural lands and waterways of Florida's interior. Expedition members documented the journey through photography, social media updates, special events along the way and a documentary film. It's called Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition: Everglades to Okefenokee, and is now showing on public television stations throughout the state.

Brevard County's outdoor enthusiasts will have many opportunities to explore the county's natural areas during the first ever Brevard Wildlife Corridor Expedition, through April 21st. During the expedition local conservationists will lead participants on a series of outdoor excursions throughout the Space Coast. Organizers hope to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the county's natural places.

Recently, some Brevard County residents received a letter notifying them that some of their neighborhood birds were about to be captured and relocated to a conservation area. Partners in this effort - Brevard Zoo and state and federal wildlife services - say the move will be beneficial to the birds. For Florida scrub jays life in the suburbs is not always easy. 

In recent years conservation funding in Florida has been cut by 97.5%. A coalition of volunteers has been busy collecting signatures across the state, in an attempt to get that funding back. The citizens and environmental groups behind this petition drive will need about a million signatures if the measure - known as Florida’s Water and Land Legacy amendment - is to make it to the 2014 ballot.

Arsema Mulugeta Assefa is one of just a few Ethiopian students who make up the larger international student body at Florida Tech.

Some highlights from Arsema's interview follow.

On why she wanted to come to the U.S. and how she plans to return to Ethiopia:

"For me personally, it was to do with the amount of freedom, and I was able to pursue what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be here. But most people leave (Ethiopia) and don't come back, and that's not my intention. I actually want to go back, make a difference in my country."