North Florida Land Trust, Inc.

Overview

North Florida Land Trust, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of ecologically, agriculturally, and historically significant lands in Northeast Florida. Founded in 1999, the trust works with willing landowners, public agencies, foundations, and other partners to safeguard the region's natural character through land acquisition and conservation easements.

Mission and Activities

The organization's mission is to protect the irreplaceable natural environment of North Florida to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations. North Florida Land Trust achieves this by focusing on the preservation of critical natural resources, including coastal estuaries, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitats. It utilizes strategic conservation tools and partnerships to identify and prioritize areas for protection, especially those threatened by population growth and climate change.

Conservation Strategies

North Florida Land Trust employs several strategies to conserve land:

• Land Acquisitions: The trust acquires lands directly through purchase or donation to ensure their protection.
• Conservation Easements: It works with landowners to establish easements, which restrict development while allowing private ownership.
• Outreach and Education: Engaging with the community through outreach campaigns and public events to promote conservation efforts.

Preservation Priority Areas

The trust has developed the North Florida Conservation Priorities (NFCP), a database that helps identify areas with the highest conservation values based on factors such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and agricultural soil productivity. This tool enables the trust to focus its efforts on critical conservation areas, referred to as Preservation Priority Areas. Currently, North Florida Land Trust is concentrating its preservation efforts on approximately 112,000 acres within these areas.

Impact and Collaborations

The organization has protected thousands of acres of environmentally significant land throughout its history. It collaborates with regional and national partners, such as the Land Trust Alliance and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), on initiatives like the Corridor to Coast (C2C) project, which aims to protect large-scale landscapes and wildlife corridors across Florida.

Initiatives

• Corridor to Coast (C2C): A major project supported by the NRCS, focusing on landscape-scale conservation across multiple counties.
• Amelia Forever: A partnership to acquire properties on Amelia Island for park space and wildlife habitat.
• Bogey Creek Preserve: A publicly accessible park in Jacksonville that showcases the trust's efforts in creating accessible natural spaces.

Support and Membership

Supporters can contribute through membership, donations, volunteering, or advocacy to help the trust achieve its conservation goals. The McQuilkin Society recognizes significant contributors to the organization's mission.