CTF Project: Pelaez & Sons Ranch offers refuge for wildlife

Ralph Pelaez with his grandson McKinley on their 1,375-acre ranch in Okeechobee County. Photo by Randy Batista

The Conservation Trust for Florida worked with the Pelaez family to place a conservation easement on their 1,375- acre cattle ranch. The easement allows the family keep their land in agricultural production and protects important habitat near the Everglades Headwaters. This project was funded by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and supported by the Florida Forest Service.

Located east of the Kissimmee River and eight miles north of Lake Okeechobee, the property is in a key location for watershed protection. It is adjacent to a federal wetlands reserve program easement and is near South Florida Water Management District conservation lands.

The property contains suitable habitat for many species such as the Eastern indigo snake, crested caracara, sandhill crane, gopher tortoise, Sherman’s fox squirrel, bald eagle, Southeastern American kestrel, burrowing owl, wood stork, and Florida grasshopper sparrow.

The Pelaez & Sons project exemplifies the relationship between sustainable agriculture and conservation. Funding from Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has allowed this family to continue ranching while protecting important water resources and wildlife habitat.

CTF hires new leadership, creates new staff position

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2017) The Conservation Trust for Florida, a leader in statewide conservation, announced the addition of Traci Deen, as executive director and Butch Parks as director of conservation.

“I am honored to lead the Conservation Trust for Florida team during this exciting and challenging time for conservation,” Deen said. “Protecting Florida’s wild and working lands has never been more important, and CTF will play a key role in shaping Florida’s conservation future.”

Deen comes to CTF with a background in environmental law and policy, legislative analysis, and community outreach.. She also teaches as an adjunct professor at Barry University’s School of Law.

“Traci’s policy and advocacy work combined with her nonprofit leadership experience, love of Florida, and boundless energy is exactly what CTF and the conservation movement in Florida needs right now,” said Lisa Gearen, CTF’s president of the board.

After an exhaustive search that lasted four months, Deen emerged as the top candidate from a pool of over 100 applicants. A sixth generation Floridian, Deen is an environmental lawyer, member of the Florida bar, and actively engaged in her community by serving in numerous leadership roles. She serves as the Chair-Elect of the Junior Leagues of Florida Public Affairs Committee, and the legislative chair for both the Florida Association for Women Lawyers and the Central FL Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, she serves as a board member of AMIKids Orlando and the Salvation Army of Seminole County. She is also very involved in Florida’s environmental community, with a passion for protecting its landscapes for future generations.

The Conservation Trust for Florida is advancing a vision that creates a vast network of hubs and corridors to support wildlife populations, provide nature-based recreation and tourist activities, help maintain Florida’s cultural heritage and history, contribute to the availability of clean water and locally-grown food.

To help escalate the pace of land protection and achieve its ambitious vision, CTF added a new conservation director position, which has been filled by Butch Parks.

Parks comes to CTF from the Jackson Hole Land Trust (JHLT) in Wyoming, where he worked as regional lands director protecting crucial open space in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Prior to working for JHLT, Parks served as the commercial property manager for Wyoming State Lands and then as the land administration supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Parks graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in electrical engineering technology. He has a diverse background in business ownership and management including ranching, aviation, veterinary medicine, construction, renewable energy, and real estate. Parks holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Flight Instructor Certificate, and is a licensed real estate broker. He also served honorably in the Marine Corps.

“I am excited to join CTF to conserve the wonders of Florida,” Parks said, “and I look forward to learning about Florida’s unique habitats and ecosystems and working with conservation partners throughout the state.”

I look forward to helping CTF conserve the wonders of Florida and working with conservation partners throughout the state.

CTF will use his knowledge of land acquisition, land management, conservation easements and government conservation programs to focus on landscape scale conservation projects, strategic partnerships, and new conservation programs throughout Florida.

“We are so fortunate to add Butch to our team. The depth and breadth of his knowledge of conservation is outstanding,” Gearen said. “With these new hires, CTF is growing to meet the demand for its services and address some of the critical conservation challenges we face as a state.”

Gearen added that CTF’s search committee and board played a crucial role in the successful hiring of these two, key staff members who will join CTF’s assistant director, Cyndi Fernandez, and its conservation consultant, Keith Fountain, in carrying out the organization’s mission to work with landowners to save Florida’s wild and working landscapes for future generations.

I have always believed in the edits of CTF’s mission. I am fortunate to be part of it.
– Cyndi Fernandez

To-date, the Conservation Trust for Florida has protected more than 19,000 acres. And over the last year, it has been instrumental in protecting over 6,500 acres including the Pelaez and Sons Ranch and the Adams Ranch near the Everglades headwaters and the Silver Springs Sandhillproperty in Central Florida.

CTF is a nonprofit land conservation organization that is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission and has met national quality standards in areas of finance, ethics, governance, and stewardship.

“We are proud of what we’ve accomplished and the momentum we’re building,” Gearen said. “The future looks bright.”

CTF Project: 465-acre property fills conservation gap in Ocala

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 19, 2017 — The Conservation Trust for Florida, a leader in statewide conservation, announced the closing of the 465-acre Silver Springs Sandhill project in Ocala.

“This is the last large undeveloped property located in Silver Springs and was entitled for over 1,800 homes,”
said John Rudnianyn, real estate broker and part owner of the property.

“Originally the brainchild of Stan McClain, then chairman of the Marion County Commission and now a state representative, the purchase was masterfully negotiated and coordinated by the Conservation Trust for Florida and presented as the Silver Springs Sandhill project by Jim Couillard, Marion County Parks Director. This was indeed a public/private effort by Marion County Commissioners, Conservation Trust for Florida, The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and three landowners who felt the benefit to Silver Springs and recreation opportunities for Marion County residents far outweighed the allure of developing homes less than a mile from the main spring,” Rudnianyn explained.

In January, the Conservation Trust for Florida finalized negotiations and signed a purchase option with the multiple owners of the Silver Springs Sandhill site. In 2015, the land trust negotiated a similar deal with Rayonier and the St. Johns River Water Management District to protect the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Marion County.

“We are very proud of our work in the Silver Springs watershed,” said Lisa Gearen, president of the Conservation Trust for Florida. “We appreciate the partnerships with Marion County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that made this project possible, and it complements the conservation and recreation value of the adjacent 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area, a CTF project completed in 2015 with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Projects that protect the health of Florida’s springs are among our highest priorities, and we look forward to future projects in the region.”

“Marion County is thrilled that this acquisition project has now been completed,” said Carl Zalak III, Chairman of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. “We are grateful for the state’s decision to acquire this 465-acre area and look forward to managing the site in alignment with the county’s springs protection goals and our vision for an ever-growing outdoor recreation program.”

Silver Springs Sandhill is a crucial piece of Central Florida’s larger conservation puzzle. The property adds to a protective buffer around the iconic Silver Springs — one of the largest artesian spring systems in the world. The property also connects to Indian Lake State Forest and Marion County’s Coehadjoe Park.

In addition to benefiting water quality and quantity, the site will offer public recreation opportunities and contribute to Ocala’s growing popularity as an ecotourism destination.

Central Florida is becoming one of Florida’s largest conservation hubs, where an estimated 500,000 acres of connected, publicly-owned conservation lands entice visitors and protect springs, rivers, groundwater and wildlife.

The property was acquired with funding from the Florida Forever program.

CTF Earns National Recognition

GAINESVILLE, Florida (August 10, 2017) –

At a time of political change, one thing is clear and consistent: Floridians strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1999, the Conservation Trust for Florida has been doing just that.

Now the Conservation Trust for Florida has renewed its land trust accreditation – proving once again that it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.

“The accreditation seal is a symbol of professionalism, dedication and integrity. Working through the reaccreditation experience has made us stronger and the achievement conveys CTF’s commitment to upholding the highest standards for land conservation,” said Lisa Gearen, president of the Conservation Trust for Florida.

To achieve this national distinction, the Conservation Trust for Florida had to provide extensive documentation and undergo a comprehensive review as part of its accreditation renewal. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded the renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence in the Conservation Trust for Florida’s long-term stability.

Accredited land trusts must renew every five years, confirming their compliance with national quality standards and providing continued assurance to donors and landowners of their commitment to forever steward their land and easements.  Almost 20 million acres of farms, forests and natural areas vital to healthy communities are now permanently conserved by an accredited land trust.

Over the last five years, the Conservation Trust for Florida has been instrumental in protecting over 10,000 acres. Working with partners, foundations, citizens and landowners, we continue to lead statewide conservation projects totaling over 165,000 acres. Notable successes include the 5,000-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Central Florida, now owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the protection of thousands of acres of historic ranchlands near the Everglades Headwaters.

“It is exciting to recognize the Conservation Trust for Florida with this distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Accredited land trusts are united behind strong ethical standards ensuring the places people love will be conserved forever. Accreditation recognizes the Conservation Trust for Florida has demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”

Accreditation Statistics

The Conservation Trust for Florida was first accredited in 2012. It is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the most recent National Land Trust Census, released December 1, 2016 by the Land Trust Alliance. This comprehensive report also shows that accredited land trusts have made significant achievements.

• Accredited land trusts have steadily grown and now steward almost 80% of conservation lands and easements held by all land trusts.
• Accredited land trusts protected five times more land from 2010 to 2015 than land trusts that were not accredited.
• Furthermore, accreditation has increased the public’s trust in land conservation, which has helped win support for federal, state and local conservation funding measures.

The Conservation Trust for Florida is one of only five accredited land trusts in the state of Florida and one of only 389 accredited land trusts across the nation. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits are detailed at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Conservation Trust for Florida

The Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit land trust. The mission of CTF is to work with landowners to save Florida’s wild and working landscapes for future generations. CTF works with landowners whose properties are located within a network of conservation priority areas to implement projects that protect agricultural, wildlife and water resources.

About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Land Trust Alliance

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. Based in Washington, D.C., and with several regional offices, the Alliance represents about 1,000 member land trusts nationwide.

The Alliance’s leadership serves the entire land trust community—our work in the nation’s capital represents the policy priorities of land conservationists from every state; our education programs improve and empower land trusts from Maine to Alaska; and our comprehensive vision for the future of land conservation includes new partners, new programs and new priorities. Connect with us online at www.landtrustalliance.org.

CTF Project: 4th Adams Ranch easement protects 3,245 acres

GAINESVILLE, Florida (July 31, 2017) – Today, the Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF), a leader in statewide conservation, announced the protection of 3,245 acres of conservation and ranch lands in Osceola County.

The property contains over 400 acres of rare dry prairie habitat suitable for the federally endangered grasshopper sparrow. Other significant natural areas include, wetland prairie, marsh, freshwater forested wetland, unimproved pasture and mixed scrub habitats.

Adams Ranch, Photo by Randy Batista

The project also supports Florida’s ranching heritage and agriculture industry. According to the Florida Cattleman’s Association, Florida is the nation’s oldest cattle ranching state and ranks in the top 15 for production.

A conservation easement will allow the land to stay in private ownership while permanently protecting its conservation values. The easement was purchased by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for $5.4 million. The Florida Forest Service will monitor the property to ensure compliance with the terms of the easement.

“This is the 30th easement on over 28,400 acres that the program has acquired since 2010 on behalf of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida,” said John Browne, land programs administrator with DACS’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. “It continues our tradition of sustaining family-owned agricultural properties that also provide significant value to Florida’s large conservation landscapes.”

Conservation easements are voluntary, legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that protect conservation values and existing land uses. Landowners may continue to own and use land as permitted by the easement, sell it, donate it, or pass it on to heirs. If the land is inherited or sold the easement and its restrictions stay in place.

Owned by the Adams Ranch, which has been in operation since the 1930s, the property is the fourth parcel the Adams family has placed under a conservation easement.

Mike Adams, president of the Adams Ranch, said that the 24,000-acre ranch has been in his family for four generations. “This is our third time working with CTF, which has played a pivotal role in protecting the land that our entire family, and especially our father, Bud Adams, holds dear.”

“With this closing, CTF will have helped the Adams protect 5,443 acres of their ranch over the last three years. I can think of no other legacy that honors the life and work of Bud Adams better than this, and CTF is proud and grateful to be a part of that,” added Lisa Gearen, CTF’s president.”

CTF prepared the application for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, facilitated the appraisal process and easement negotiations, and helped the family navigate the complexities of the transaction.

The Adams Ranch is the 12th largest cow/calf operation in the United States. This latest easement is on their Lake Marian Ranch that lies in the heart of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. The Refuge seeks to protect the imperiled habitats and rare species of the Northern Everglades.

According to data from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, a non-profit organization administered by Florida State University, the property contains suitable habitat for a number of state and federally endangered species. A partial list of species that could be supported by habitat on the site includes: gopher tortoises, Eastern indigo snakes, Everglades snail kites, Florida burrowing owls, Florida Sandhill cranes, Florida grasshopper sparrows, Sherman’s fox squirrels and Florida black bears.

CTF Helps Ranching Family Save 1,375 Acres Near Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee

Ralph Pelaez with his daughter, Stephanie Pelaez and grandson McKinley on their 1,375-acre ranch in Okeechobee County. Photo by Randy Batista.

Gainesville, Florida (May 1, 2017) – The Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF), a leader in statewide conservation, announced the protection of a 1,375-acre cattle ranch in Okeechobee County.

A conservation easement, purchased by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for $3.25 million, now permanently protects the land’s natural resources and sustains the Peleaz & Sons’ agricultural operation.

“This is the 29th easement on over 21,265 acres that the program has acquired since 2010 on behalf of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida and continues our tradition of sustaining family-owned agricultural properties that also provide significant value to Florida’s large conservation landscapes,” noted John Browne, Land Programs Administrator with DACS's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

CTF's role

The Conservation Trust for Florida helped the landowner navigate the transaction process, provided real estate expertise and facilitated the easement purchase. The Florida Forest Service will monitor the property to ensure compliance with the terms of the conservation easement.

Pelaez & Sons history

The Pelaez & Sons cow/calf ranch has been in continuous operation since the 1950s when Abel Pelaez came to the United States from Colombia. His son, Ralph Pelaez, now owns the land where he and his family use best management practices to raise their cattle.

“My family has always been committed to ranching and the conservation of this land,” said Pelaez. “I am very grateful to the Conservation Trust for Florida and the Rural and Family Lands Program for helping me establish this legacy for my children and grandchildren.”

Their ranching operation is a model and is visited annually by the University of Florida beef production class for educational purposes.

In addition to its agricultural features, the property has high conservation value. Ecological communities include pastureland, wet prairie, prairie hammock and freshwater marsh.

Conservation values

Located east of the Kissimmee River and eight miles north of Lake Okeechobee, the property is in a key location for watershed protection. It is adjacent to a federal wetlands reserve program easement and is near South Florida Water Management District conservation lands.

It is also home to, and contains suitable habitat for, many species such as the Eastern Indigo snake, Crested Caracara, Sandhill Crane, Gopher Tortoise, Sherman’s Fox Squirrel, Bald Eagle, Southeastern American Kestrel, Burrowing Owl, Wood Stork, and Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.

What is a conservation easement?

Conservation easements are voluntary, legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that protect conservation values. Landowners may continue to own and use land, sell it, donate it, or pass it on to heirs, but the easement ‘runs with the land.’ If the land is inherited or sold the easement and its restrictions stay in place.

CTF Project: Cabinet approves purchase of 365 acres in Marion County

The Conservation Trust for Florida announced today a second land conservation victory in Marion County. Thanks to today’s approval by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, 365 acres in Ocala will be acquired with funding from the Florida Forever program.

The site, known as Silver Springs Sandhill, will be purchased by the state and managed by Marion County Parks and Recreation. The application to Florida Forever was submitted by Marion County.

In January, the Conservation Trust for Florida finalized negotiations and signed a purchase option with the multiple owners of the Silver Springs Sandhill site, which was slated to be developed with 1600 housing units. The option will now be assigned to the state and the purchase will be completed later this year. In 2015, the land trust negotiated a similar deal with Rayonier and the St. John’s River Water Management District to protect the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Marion County.

Silver Springs Sandhill is a crucial piece of Central Florida’s larger conservation puzzle. The property adds to a protective buffer around the iconic Silver Springs — one of the largest artesian spring systems in the world. The property also connects to Indian Lake State Forest and Marion County's Coehadjoe Park.

As its name implies, the property’s soil is sandy, making it an excellent aquifer recharge site. In addition to benefiting water quality and quantity, the site will offer public recreation opportunities and contribute to Ocala’s growing popularity as an ecotourism destination.

Central Florida is becoming one of Florida’s largest conservation hubs, where an estimated 500,000 acres of connected, publicly-owned conservation lands entice visitors and protect springs, rivers, groundwater and wildlife.

Lisa Gearen, president of the Conservation Trust for Florida’s board of directors said, “This is exactly the kind of project that we love. It brings together partners around a common goal and truly enhances the conservation value of surrounding lands. It’s exciting to be part of this success and partner with local government. We expect to be doing more of that in the future.”

CTF Announces Addition to Everglades Headwaters Refuge

Adding Pieces to the Puzzle

The Conservation Trust for Florida announced the protection of 2,198 acres of important habitat and working ranchland in the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Adams Ranch, Inc. provides stewardship of a landscape-sized wildlife corridor connecting other managed lands. Photo by Carlton Ward / carltonward.com

The USFWS purchased a 662-acre conservation easement from Adams Ranch, Inc., in a transaction facilitated by the Conservation Trust for Florida. The purchase protects one of the last remaining grassland and longleaf pine savanna landscapes in eastern North America. It was funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was recently reauthorized by Congress.

Additionally, the Florida Forest Service purchased a 1,536-acre conservation easement from the ranch, which builds upon previous protection efforts funded by the Rural and Family Lands Program.

About the Adams Ranch

The 24,000-acre Adams Ranch is located between the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Avon Park Air Force Range, Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve and the St. Johns River. The property is situated within the heart of the national wildlife refuge and the Kissimmee River Basin, where significant hydrologic restoration is ongoing to improve water resources critical for Everglades ecological functioning and safe drinking water for South Floridians.

Protected habitat on the ranch includes pine flatwoods, dry prairie and a large forested hammock known as Barber Hammock. Dry prairie is a globally-imperiled habitat found only in subtropical Florida and is characterized by nearly treeless plains rich in grassy vegetation. Home to the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow and other species of special concern, the quality and extent of remaining dry prairie habitat continues to decline as a result of conversion to other land uses.

In addition to being part of a growing network of protected lands forming a large wildlife corridor, these recent purchases could help with recovery of the Florida panther. The ranch also has resources related to historical events dating back to the Civil War.

Collaborating with Ranches

Privately owned ranches in Florida, such as the Adams Ranch, are becoming increasingly more valuable for conservation as the state's population continues to climb. Many ranchers have preserved the natural resources and ecological sustainability of their land for generations. The Conservation Trust for Florida works with landowners whose properties are located within a network of conservation priority areas to implement projects that protect agricultural, wildlife and water resources.

"Florida's ranch families are leading the way in terms of how Florida's natural resources are being protected for future generations."
– David Houghton, president, National Wildlife Refuge Association

The Conservation Trust for Florida was joined in its work with the Adams Ranch and the USFWS by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, which supports the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in Florida and other wildlife refuges nationwide by working in Washington D.C. to secure funding and support for the USFWS.

"This is land and water conservation at its best," said David Houghton, president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "Florida's ranch families are leading the way in terms of how Florida's natural resources are being protected for future generations."

"It's an honor for Adams Ranch to protect land as part of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge" said Mike Adams, president of Adams Ranch, Inc. "We take pride in our management of Florida's natural resources, as well as our cattle, and conservation easements will allow our succeeding generations to enjoy this heritage as well."

"The Conservation Trust for Florida congratulates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its efforts to build a network of conservation lands in the Kissimmee River basin that will protect scenic landscapes, water resources and the ranching heritage for future generations" said Susan Carr, executive director of the Conservation Trust for Florida. "Families like the Adams are leaders in the ranching industry, which is important to our economy. Their dedication to keeping these large ranches intact will preserve Florida's unique ranching lifestyle and provide essential habitat for wildlife."

"Our agency is proud to have worked with the Adams and three other ranches in this Everglades Headwaters region to protect historic, environmentally significant ranchlands in the path of development so that Florida may enjoy its agricultural successes and secure its landscapes and open space,"
– Jim Karels, director, Florida Forest Service

"These conservation easement partnerships leverage resources and enhance efforts to protect Florida's natural habitat while helping farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture," noted Roney Gutierrez, assistant state conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service's Florida Easements Program.

Rural and Family Lands Protection Programs in Action

The Conservation Trust for Florida collaborated with the Florida Forest Service on its Adams Ranch conservation easement purchase using Florida's highly successful Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Additional funding for this transaction was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service's Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Created in 2001, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program protects Florida's valuable agricultural lands through conservation easements that ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of the environment without interfering with the continued economic viability of agricultural operations.

Created in 2014, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program provides nationwide financial assistance to partners for purchasing conservation easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land, helping farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture.

Conservation Florida Negotiates Acquisition of Silver Springs Forest

Gainesville, Fla., Sept. 8, 2015 - Conservation Florida, a nonprofit land trust, has negotiated the acquisition of almost 4,900 acres directly north of Silver Springs State Park as part of its statewide strategy to protect land with high conservation value.

The property, called Silver Springs Forest, is within the Silver Springs watershed and will help recharge the Floridan Aquifer and reduce nutrient pollution entering the Silver and Oklawaha rivers. It will also provide a vital link between other protected lands, creating more habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for visitors to Florida's parks.

Other benefits include hydrologic restoration that will result in water quality improvement and opportunities for water storage. The property provides habitat for the Florida black bear and other wildlife and links Indian Lake State Forest, Silver Springs State Park, the Cross Florida Greenway and District-managed lands to the Ocala National Forest.

The St. Johns River Water Management District will purchase the property from Rayonier Inc. and manage the land in accordance with the District's mission to protect and ensure the sustainable use of water resources.

To complete the $11.5 million land deal and create Silver Springs Forest, Conservation Florida must raise nearly $1 million to assist the District with acquisition costs.

"The Silver Springs Forest project is a huge step forward in the Conservation Florida's effort to protect private forests close to Silver Springs," said president Susan Carr. "Partners are essential to the success of large conservation initiatives and, in this case, we are fortunate to have the District's strong commitment to improving the health of Florida's springs and Rayonier's history of placing its most environmentally significant lands into conservation."

"The Silver Springs Forest project is a huge step forward in the Conservation Trust for Florida's effort to protect private forests close to Silver Springs," – Susan Carr, President of the Board of Directors

Funding for the project will come from the District, with additional financial support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's springs protection program and from Conservation Florida's fundraising efforts.

"This partnership acquisition allows us to contemplate restoration projects that will benefit Silver Springs and provides a valuable opportunity to preserve and possibly enhance groundwater recharge close to the spring," said Board Vice Chairman Fred N. Roberts Jr., of Ocala. "Also, linking thousands of acres of public lands will provide additional recreational opportunities in the region and creates a 20-mile migratory corridor that will enhance wildlife habitat."

"Collaboration between state and local partners is key to reaching our restoration goals. DEP is proud to be a partner on this important acquisition that will reduce nitrate loading to Silver Springs, as well as provide vital aquifer recharge to benefit the springs' flow," said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. "Addressing both water quality and quantity will further our efforts to protect this spring."

"Rayonier is proud to have partnered with the District and Conservation Florida to make the conservation of this land permanent. Florida's forests are important to the health of its aquifers, springs and rivers, and maintaining the health of these systems is critical to the vibrant future of Florida," said Callie DeHaven, conservation manager for TerraPointe Services, Rayonier's real estate services subsidiary. "Land, stewarded by Rayonier foresters for many years, provides a key piece in this conservation landscape connecting the state forest, state park, greenway and a national forest - an important win for Silver Springs and for all Florida citizens."

"In 2006, Marion County supported the purchase of the Indian Lake State Forest as a critical step in the protection of Silver Springs," said Marion County Commission Chairman Stan McClain. "Today, the county stands with Conservation Florida and our agency partners in celebrating the next phase of protecting the springs - a land purchase that will connect the currently isolated state forest with a vast network of public conservation lands for our area's wildlife and world-class outdoor recreational opportunities."

"Today, the county stands with Conservation Florida and our agency partners in celebrating the next phase of protecting the springs - a land purchase that will connect the currently isolated state forest with a vast network of public conservation lands for our area's wildlife and world-class outdoor recreational opportunities." – Marion County Commission Chairman Stan McClain

The protection of the property has national significance. The Silver Springs Forest project ranked fourth nationally out of more than 50 competing projects in the President's 2016 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Legacy Program, which supports state efforts to protect forestlands.

CTF Projects Make Top Tier

A Great Day for Projects!

On September 3rd, the Florida Forest Service’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) Selection Committee met all day in Bartow to rank 70 applications for funding next year.

The Rural and Family Lands program protects agricultural lands from conversion to non-agricultural land uses, and secondarily protects conservation values important to the landowner and the Florida Forest Service.

The Conservation Trust for Florida was affiliated with 11 of the 70 applications. Of these 11 projects, which total over 54,800 acres, seven properties were ranked in the top tier and will be eligible for funding next year.

We worked with the landowners of these seven top-tier properties, which total over 45,000 acres. These projects are dispersed throughout Peninsular Florida and include forests surrounding north Florida springs and ranches in the Everglades Headwaters region.

We are one step closer to achieving our goal of protected rural lands and intact wildlife corridors!

Our ranked projects are:

• Adams Ranch, Osceola County (24,000 acres)
• Rainey Pasture, Marion County (5,100 acres)
• Heart Bar IV Ranch, Osceola County (5,000 acres)
• Double C Bar Ranch, Osceola County (4,100 acres)
• Sampala Lake Ranch, Madison County (2,200 acres)
• Canaan Ranch, Gilchrist County (3,200 acres)
• Todd Clemons Unit One, Okeechobee County (1,900 acres)

These seven projects were selected by the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program for their top tier, which makes them eligible for funding next year.

Advocate for Amendment 1

Legislation Needed to Fulfill Amendment 1

Solitude at Sunrise • Silver River State Park. ©John Moran, johnmoranphoto.com

In November, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment. The Amendment dedicates 33% of the existing excise tax on documents for the next 20 years to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve and manage conservation lands.

This was an incredible win for conservation in Florida, but the victory will not be complete until elected leaders implement legislation that will fund land conservation using this dedicated stream of funding.

You can help!

Right now your legislative leaders are gearing up for the upcoming Legislative Session, which begins on March 3. They are holding committee and planning meetings now and need to hear from their constituents on this issue.

Please take a moment to contact your state representative and senator and tell them that you, along with 75% of all voters in the state of Florida, agree that the purpose of Amendment 1 is to revive state spending to its highest allowable limits for existing land and water conservation programs that has not been supplied by the Legislature in recent years.

Find Your Legislators

You can find contact information for your state representative and senator here: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

More Resources

The Conservation Trust for Florida is a member of Florida’s Water and Land Legacy. This coalition of civic organizations and businesses maintains an excellent website with tools, background information, and updates.

• For talking points, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/page/talkingpoints
• For a legislative toolkit, which includes helpful tips on setting up effective meetings with your legislators, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/page/legitoolkit
• For sample text, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/action/takeaction

Little Orange Creek Preserve

The 1,900-acre Little Orange Creek Preserve (LOCP) is located just northeast of the City of Hawthorne. Much of LOCP is basin swamp with cypress, tupelo, and red maple trees. The uplands were historically sandhill and flatwoods, but were converted to planted pine many years ago. The varied habitats support a wonderful diversity of animals and plants. Bears have often been photographed by trail cameras, and they are known to traverse the preserve. Other predators that roam freely include bobcats, coyotes, and otters. The freshwater marshes and swamps add to important stopovers for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. They also provide critical year-round habitat for many wetland-dependent plant and animal species.

Although recreational opportunities on the property are extremely limited, eventually there will be a network of trails that connect with the adjacent City of Hawthorne’s Little Orange Creek Nature Park. There also is considerable work ahead to return these lands to a more natural state. The restoration and management of LOCP will be coordinated between the various government and non-profit organizations involved. Uplands restoration will include thinning, prescribed burns, and planting.

Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF) and Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) with help from other partners associated with the North Florida Wetlands Conservation Project (NFWCP) acquired an important 390-acre addition to the 1,900-acre complex of conservation lands known as Little Orange Creek Preserve early in 2013. CTF, ACT, the Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC), and the City of Hawthorne are members of the Little Orange Creek Partners Land Management Committee. The purchase was made possible with federal funds from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and represents another successful partnership of the NFWCP to apply this funding source in the region. To date, more than 8000-acres have been protected in the first four phases of the NFWCP, which will complement tens of thousands of acres of nearby conservation lands, including Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (~21,000 acres), Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (~28,000 acres), and others. Previous NFWCP phases include: Kanapaha Prairie Preserve, Tuscawilla Preserve, Barr Hammock Preserve, Levy Lake/Whitehurst tract, and Little Orange Creek Preserve (western part).