A scene of a forest fire with flames and smoke among trees and dry grass.

costly, time-consuming & complicated.

Managing your land can be

We can help.

Conservation Florida’s Private Lands Stewardship Program helps landowners like you protect, restore, and sustain Florida’s working and wild landscapes. Whether you’re facing challenges with invasive species, wildfires, water management, or long-term conservation planning, we provide the resources, expertise, and financial support to help you get the job done. 

Apply

Applications Close August 31, 2026.

We’re currently assisting landowners in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape but have hopes to expand services.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

A wildfire burning through a forest with tall pine trees in the background and flames consuming dry grass and shrubs in the foreground.

Prescribed Fire

Reduce your wildfire risks, improve soil and plant health, and restore habitat with fire lane creation and controlled burns. 

Tall trees in a forest with fallen and uprooted trees on the ground.

Invasive species control

Manage and remove invasive plants and animals that threaten your land. 

A group of people working outdoors in a grassy field, surrounded by trees and parked cars, digging and planting in the ground on a sunny day with scattered clouds.

Native Species Support

Improve habitat conditions by restoring native plants and wildlife. 

Sunset over a body of water with a partly cloudy sky and silhouettes of trees along the horizon.

Restoration of Waterways

Through consultation with experts from UF/IFAS, we can help you improve water quality, enhance wetland function, and strengthen resilience to drought and flooding.

Four people walking on a sandy trail surrounded by trees in a forest. The group includes two men and two women, dressed in casual outdoor clothing, with one man wearing a hat and sunglasses, and one woman wearing sunglasses, engaged in conversation.

Technical Assistance

Connect with experts to navigate land management practices that support conservation, sustainability, and your long-term stewardship goals.

  • “My goal is to keep my property as wild as possible. I appreciate Conservation Florida helping me do that while I'm here and after I am gone.”

    Nancy Kirk

  • "I am grateful to Conservation Florida for helping me get some good ecological land management accomplished on my property. The fire line prep and prescribed burn that got done have made a big improvement in the condition of my habitat.”

    Steve Morrison

WHO QUALIFIES?

We are currently only able to assist landowners in the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape. Please see map for our current service area and check back in - we're hoping to expand our services in the coming years.

Map showing the Florida Wildlife Corridor with conservation lands marked in dark green and the APAFR Sentinel Landscape outlined in orange, centered around Osceola, Polk, Highlands, and surrounding areas.

To ensure transparency and fairness, we collect landowner and property data to determine eligibility. Selection is based on the following hierarchical criteria: 

Icons illustrating different stages of a daily routine: airplane, house, tree, calendar, money, sun, two houses, ending with planting trees.
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Questions?

Reach out and our team will contact you directly about your unique land management needs!

Contact Us
A sunset scene with a large pine tree in the foreground, surrounded by smaller trees and vegetation, with the sun near the horizon casting a warm glow and the sky transitioning from light blue to orange with some clouds.

Ready to take the next step in caring for your land? Apply now to join our Stewardship Program and get the expert support you need to protect and preserve your piece of wild Florida.

Ready?

Apply

Extra Resources

  • EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:

    • Improved water and air quality;

    • Conserved ground and surface water;

    • Increased soil health ;

    • Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;

    • Improved or created wildlife habitat; and

    • Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

  • The Landowner Assistance Program can provide technical assistance and conservation plan preparation at no cost for private landowners, as well as recognition and education to those participating in our programs. There are no acreage limitations to receive habitat management guidance.

  • The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) administers the Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost Share Program to assist eligible producers or landowners with BMPs. Project funding is on a continuous basis until program funds are fully encumbered.

  • The UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program helps help and encourages private landowners to manage their lands for long-term environmental, economic and social benefits