advertisement

SSN on Facebook SSN on Twitter SSN on YouTube RSS Feed

7 Comments
Politics

Florida Preserves Nearly 3,000 Environmentally Sensitive Acres

September 29, 2015 - 4:00pm

If you're worried the state isn't protecting enough environmentally sensitive lands, this was an outstanding day. The Florida Board of Trustees Tuesday approved the purchase of two conservation easements totaling 2,903 acres as part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. 

The new conservation easements in Seminole and Collier counties increase the total land preserved by the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to 12,808 acres and allow agricultural operations to continue while protecting sensitive natural resources from future development.
 
“These properties are invaluable pieces of Florida’s ecosystem, contributing to the protection of aquifer recharge areas and providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife,” Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said in a prepared statement. “With the approval of these two properties, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program preserves nearly 13,000 acres from future development, while allowing the land and agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy.”
 
Here are the details on the newest Rural and Family Lands Protection Program conservation easements:
 
JB Ranch – Collier County: 1,617 acres

JB Ranch was founded in the 1940s and is under its third generation of management. It is located immediately north of Big Cypress National Preserve. In addition to being within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Primary Zone for the federally endangered panther, the property is home to several threatened species, including the crested caracara, wood stork and sand hill crane. Agricultural activities on the ranch include cattle grazing, select timber harvesting, bee keeping and row crops.
 
Purchase Price: $3,750,000 ($1,500,000 National Resource Conservation Service partnership; reducing Board of Trustees purchase price to $2,250,000)
 
Kilbee Ranch – Seminole County: 1,286 acres

Kilbee Ranch has been operated by the same family since the 1920s and shares an eastern boundary with the Little Big Econ State Forest. It is near the St. Johns and Econolockhatchee rivers. The property is home to the gopher tortoise, sandhill crane, deer, turkey, coyotes, Florida black bear and more.
 
Purchase Price: $4,095,000 ($1,000,000 National Resource Conservation Service partnership; reducing Board of Trustees purchase price to $3,095,000)
 
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program was created in 2001 and has acquired 20 perpetual easements. The easements protect working agricultural lands threatened by other uses, such as residential and commercial development.
 
The goals of the program include these:

  • Protecting valuable agricultural lands;
  • Creating conservation easements that ensure sustainable agricultural practices;
  • Preventing conversion to non-agricultural land uses in the rural base of Florida; and
  • Helping to protect natural resources in conjunction with these agricultural operations.

 Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact estimated at more than $123 billion annually, making it the state’s second largest industry. The agriculture industry supports more than 2 million jobs in Florida.

More information on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is available here.

Comments

Wonderful, another 3000 acres off the tax roles. Bet the taxes go up in Seminole and Collier counties.

ENOUGH with the "bullcrap" "Florida Board of Trustees", and tell us how effectively you've controlled the "Burmese Python Epidemic" and the "Asian Lizard incursion", both of which eating EVERYTHING alive in the Everglades. We're liable to wake up one morning to learn that there are exotic dangerous foreign species, or terrorist camps on these HUGE tracts of land you have just purchased... Your record of land acquisition is impressive, BUT your stewardship of that land sucks ! You have no idea, on a day to day basis exactly what is occurring on those lands and how it MIGHT affect Florida (such as the Everglades); Why, there might even be "Gypsy Wagons" parked "out there somewhere". Stop "patting yourselves on your backs" like you've found another way to acquire an additional wife (They ALL require maintenance, and if you ignore even one, you might find yourself living with a Burmese Python who will bestow the "Chinese Curse" upon you: "May you live an interesting life".

In a Conservation Easement is the public allowed on the land? if not, then it is a waste of money. Just more taxpayer money wasted on Big Ag!

Gee . . . . . must be more great reporting by SSN . . . . . with not a word about the Governor being the sole vote against one of these votes . . . . . . yes, let's not report that inconvenient truth . . . . . . PATHETIC . . . .

Under the conservation easement provision the land may continue to be operated as it is now. But not wacked into half acre lots and sold to Yankees to put more trailers on. Since the legislature was supposed to spend around $700 million on these sorts of projects this is a small panacea. A drop in the bucket, but at least a drop.

Ranch land owned "for several generations", not wetlands. Good to know.

How does land become "environmentally sensitive?" I think those who deem such crap should provide evidence based on science. Then let opposition present actual scientist to refute claims. Additionally, vague studies should not be taken as anything but hearsay, it is not evidence without a professional statement under oath. Let the study be signed by a professional as to whatever claim is made and if it is wrong and causes damage to anyone or group then the professional who signs off on it should be liable for damages as a result of that professional's fraud or malpractice. That would cut down the Bull $#it.

Comments are now closed.

politics
advertisement
advertisement
Live streaming of WBOB Talk Radio, a Sunshine State News Radio Partner.

advertisement