Two North Florida Land Trust projects approved for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Thousands of acres are closer to permanent preservation. End Quote

Jacksonville, FL (1888PressRelease) September 13, 2016 - More than 6,000 acres of land in a critical wildlife corridor are a big step closer to being permanently preserved for future generations thanks to the work of North Florida Land Trust and two Florida couples. The two properties have been selected for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which protects working farms and forests from development by purchasing conservation easements on these valuable agricultural lands. Earlier this year, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the state would invest $35 million to purchase conservation easements and invited farmers and ranchers to apply.

"We represented these two families through the application process and it was a great victory for us and our mission to have both properties selected for this program," said Jim McCarthy, Executive Director of NFLT. "These perpetual conservation easements protect natural resources while allowing these landowners to maintain ownership and use of the land."

The selection committee ranked 122 working farms, ranches and forests to be funded for preservation under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The two properties NFLT represented were both selected as Tier 1 projects, making them available for the funding of their conservation easements next year. The projects are expected to be approved by the Governor's cabinet in October and preservation will begin from there. NFLT will continue to work with the land owners to help them through the conservation easement process with the state.

The South Prong Plantation of Baker County and Wetland Preserve in Putnam County were the two projects represented by NFLT, which are a combined 6,115 acres. Preserving these lands will not only protect the important forest, but also the critically important water resources and habitat of wildlife, like the Florida Black Bear. Both parcels of land are critical linkages in the O2O Corridor, a nationally critical wildlife corridor that stretches from the Ocala National Forest to the Osceola National Forest and eventually to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia.

The South Prong Plantation, owned by Doug and Teresa Moore, is 2,410 acres of pine plantation and natural swamp and forest lands. The Moores purchased the property in 2004 to be a working forest and hunting property and to protect the headwaters of the South Prong of the St. Mary's River, which is a singularly important resource. The land includes almost 500 acres of untouched swamp forest known as the South Prong Swamp, from which the South Prong of the St. Marys River flows. The Moores wanted to enter into this program to keep this land untouched forever.

The Wetland Preserve is 3,705 acres of working pine forest and wetland tract owned by Ben and Louann Williams. The land is surrounded by other conservation lands. It shares a seven-mile boundary and buffers the St. Johns River Water Management District Rice Creek Preserve. It also borders the Putman County Nine Mile Swamp Park, sits a mile away from Etoniah Creek State Forest and contains portions of the Florida Trail. The Williams' work in the commercial fishing industry and their volunteer work with groups like the St. Johns Riverkeeper taught them how important good land management is to the health of the St. Johns River. Since retirement, the Williams have dedicated their time to managing the Wetland Preserve.

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program was originally created in 2001. Its focus is on maintaining the agricultural land base in Florida, protecting working farms and forest from development and prioritizing those lands to protect important conservation values in Florida. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is one of the few programs to have been funded by Amendment #1, the citizen led constitutional amendment for land conservation funding supported by 75% of Florida citizens. It recognizes a thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base is vital for Florida's future. To learn more about the program, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a non-profit organization who serves as a champion of environmental protection in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. NFLT was founded in 1999 and has protected thousands of acres of environmentally significant land including land at Big Talbot Island, the River Branch Preserve, Pumpkin Hill State Park, Moccasin Slough, along the St. Mary's River and other valued natural areas in Northeast Florida. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with private landowners and other public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org.

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