Land Acquisition and Management
The Environmental Lands Program accepts site nominations, and then gathers pertinent information for each nomination. The Environmental Lands Criteria are used by the TAG and CLASAC to rank the sites. Recommendations for or against acquisition of sites are forwarded to the BoCC for their consideration and approval. The County attempts to share costs with an acquisition or management partner wherever possible.
Once a site is acquired, interim management begins, which may include site security, debris removal, exotic species removal, and creation of temporary parking areas and trails, until a management plan is finalized. A natural resource inventory is conducted on the property and nature-based recreation opportunities are evaluated for compatibility with the site. Public input is solicited about the proposed management plan, and the plan is also reviewed by the CLASAC. The BoCC reviews public input, CLASAC, and staff recommendations. It then adopts a final plan. The management plan is reviewed periodically to accommodate changing conditions.
Flowcharts(99Kb)of the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management processes are available to view.
Monitoring Effects
Some species have become so rare that state and federal governments have listed them as endangered (E), threatened (T), or species of special concern (SSC), such as the Florida scrub-jay (T), gopher tortoise (SSC), bald eagle (T), sand skink (T), and fox squirrel (SSC). Managing agencies must consider the effects of their management techniques on those rare species.
Other monitoring efforts include seasonal wildlife surveys, vegetation surveys, and hydrological monitoring. Ecological monitoring is performed to gather information to access wildlife and vegetative communities. Monitoring is the cornerstone for adaptive management, which links management activities to minimizing risk to species, communities, and ecosystems.
Invasive Plant Management
Florida's natural areas are subject to disturbance by invasive plant and animal species. Particularly due to warm climate, widespread waterways, and sunny environment, invasive exotic plants have been documented throughout the state.
Plants considered invasive exotic plant are species that are not native to Florida, reproduce aggressively, and out compete our native plants for water, light, and space.
In natural areas, invasive exotic species are undesirable because they disrupt natural processes, such as fire and hydrology. They also displace native plants and animals.