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2 10 14 MARSH FORWARD! THE OCALA TO OSCEOLA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR

CLAY COUNTY AND NFLT –PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION

Leadership A LETTER FROM

Dear Friends,

I am coming up on my first anniversary as NFLT president and every day I continue to think what a privilege it is to be part of such a vibrant community dedicated to helping protect North Florida’s unique places Like all of you, I want my grandchildren to know what the “Real Florida” looks like We are at a critical point in preserving what makes North Florida so special; our waterways, saltwater marshes, forests, grasslands, and farms all need champions for their preservation and conservation As we approach our 25th year of conserving land and Florida’s natural resources, we cannot skip a beat in our efforts It seems, some days, that all of America is moving to Florida It is your support that empowers NFLT to continue to protect and preserve what makes Florida so special

In this issue we are highlighting three major initiatives of NFLT’s Conservation Acquisitions Team We work alongside conservationists, government agencies, community leaders, and landowners to protect land and maximize conservation benefits Florida’s natural lands are this state’s most significant economic asset, and our Conservation Acquisitions Team is committed to protecting all the parts of Florida that make Florida what it is

If we are going to preserve land for future generations, we must act now, or the chance will be lost forever Your support strengthens our efforts to protect our treasured lands, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your help in advancing the work NFLT can accomplish. Together we can save the lands we love before it is too late.

It’s Now or Never!

Rev. Cn. Allison DeFoor President and CEO

Marsh Forward!

SALT MARSH CONSERVATION PLANNING AND OUTREACH

In August 2022, the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) partnered with The Pew Charitable Trusts to lead a geospatial analysis and community outreach project in support of the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative (SASMI). NFLT was tasked with leading a Florida specific effort to identify geographic areas of opportunity for salt marsh conservation, restoration, and future marsh migration. The project supports and adds implementation context to SASMI’s “Marsh Forward. A Regional Plan for the Future of the South Atlantic Coast’s Million-Acre Salt Marsh Ecosystem. The stated goal of the Regional Plan is to conserve one million acres of salt marsh across the South Atlantic coastal states.

A regional initiative, SASMI brings together leaders from the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) and other local, state, and federal stakeholders from academia, governmental agencies, communities, and NGOs to determine the greatest threats to the salt marsh ecosystem, and opportunities for its survival in a four-state region along the South Atlantic coastline. SASMI’s geographic scope extends from North Carolina through Brevard County in East-Central Florida This coalition effort officially launched in May 2021 Since then SERPPAS and The Pew Charitable Trusts have brought together approximately 300 diverse partners across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida to support the conservation, restoration, and migration of this great expanse of salt marsh This initiative seeks to help the ecosystem survive the threats it faces, and to ensure it delivers its multitude of benefits for future generations

SASMI uses a voluntary, collaborative, and non-regulatory approach that complements each state and organizations’ existing programs for conservation of the South Atlantic salt marsh The successful regional SERPPAS conservation effort known as America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative provided both inspiration and a model for SASMI. Using that approach, SASMI has brought together additional interested stakeholders to develop and implement an integrated, coordinated, and focused ten-year regional conservation plan for the South Atlantic salt marsh

SASMI’s Regional Plan for the Future of the South Atlantic Coast’s Million-Acre Salt Marsh Ecosystem centers on two primary strategies to achieve the SASMI goal and from which specific objectives and actions cascade These two strategies are:

STRATEGY 1

STRATEGY 2

Conserve marsh migration corridors and remove or retrofit barriers to ensure salt marsh can shift as sea levels rise.

The SASMI Regional Plan articulates a regional framework for salt marsh conservation and identifies the most significant actions needed to conserve salt marsh and to advance those actions in a strategic, outcome-oriented fashion. While the regional plan focuses on landscape level regional and statewide approaches in the form of policy, planning, and programming to conserve marsh, this supplemental state project targets a more specific set of next steps Through geospatial analysis and listening sessions with multiple stakeholder groups, NFLT sought localized feedback on SASMI’s two key strategies, and how these strategies could best be implemented in the state of Florida This project adds granular detail with more specific recommendations, best practices, and input from stakeholders who know Florida’s salt marshes best. This article highlights some of the details of NFLT’s processes, recommendations, and key findings following our geospatial analysis and stakeholder feedback sessions

Protect and restore the health and functions of existing salt marshes

Project Scope and Objectives

NFLT focused on the six coastal counties of Northeast Florida for this project: Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard. Northeast Florida, locally known as the “First Coast,” is a place with a diverse set of natural and cultural resources Within the bounds of Northeast Florida are the most productive agricultural soils in Florida, three expansive tidal estuary ecosystems, and the largest river system in Florida There is a national estuarine research reserve, a national ecological and historic preserve, five state aquatic preserves, state, and national forests, as well as dozens of state and county parks The Northeast Florida salt marsh system extends from Nassau County down to Brevard County and the dominant saltmarsh species are needle rush or Juncus roemerianus (the grayish green, pointed rush occurring where tides reach higher levels) and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) found in the lower areas that are inundated daily

Northeast Florida has lost approximately 10,000 acres of salt marsh, and scientists point to the acceleration of sea level rise as the primary driver behind the ecosystem decline. Most salt marsh loss has occurred in Florida’s five northeast counties, which contain 11% of the state’s total salt marsh acreage Nassau County suffered its greatest loss when the Intracoastal Waterway was dredged and Duval County lost even more as a result of human activity. An analysis of 3.5 miles on either side of the St. Johns Inlet and 10 miles up the St Johns River showed a 36% loss of marsh habitat, principally because of dredge-andfill activities since 1943

To better address marsh loss and protect Florida’s remaining salt marsh, NFLT was tasked with mapping potential opportunity areas and engaging with multiple stakeholder groups to seek feedback on the specific challenges facing salt marsh conservation and restoration in Florida

To begin the mapping effort to identify geographic areas of opportunity for salt marsh conservation, restoration, and future marsh migration, NFLT gathered multiple GIS data layers As part of the data gathering exercise, NFLT consulted with key agencies in Florida regarding the best available GIS data layers to analyze existing marsh, marsh migration areas, marsh restoration areas, and existing conservation land. These agencies included Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FL DEP), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Additionally, NFLT utilized the University of Florida (UF) GeoPlan Center’s Florida Geographic Data Library, which is an extensive data catalog of geospatial data for the entire state of Florida While these agencies’ data layers were primarily utilized in our analysis, through the listening sessions, NFLT was made aware of numerous other data layers and mapping tools that could be utilized for future analysis or conservation planning including The NOAA Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model, or SLAMM (Sea Level Affecting Salt Marshes Model), Florida DEP Sea Level Impact Projection Study Tool, and the NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program plus a number of others. NFLT was also informed of additional data that is available upon request from various agencies such as Mosquito Control Districts, SJRWMD, and the Florida Public Archaeology Network

In addition to data collection and a mapping study, NFLT worked to identify and engage relevant Florida stakeholders in a series of stakeholder listening sessions to inform them of the development of the SASMI conservation plan and to build awareness and support for effective implementation NFLT also sought localized feedback, adding more granular data and recommendations that could complement SASMI’s regional effort

NFLT began this engagement effort first by identifying relevant stakeholders in each of our six SASMI counties with whom NFLT already had existing relationships. These included members of the Flagler County Land Acquisition Committee, an advisory board to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, Volusia Forever, Volusia County’s land acquisition and management program, and the St Johns River Water Management District staff. While engaging with these stakeholders, NFLT was alerted to other organizations and community members who might be interested and valuable participants in salt marsh conservation stakeholder listening sessions, such as Local Resiliency Officers from various cities and counties within the SASMI project area, and the Resilient First Coast Collaborative, a Northeast Florida collaborative made of many partners from multiple sectors, including local government, business, nonprofit organizations, academic institution, state and local agencies, utilities, and the military Additionally, NFLT is a member

of the Northeast Florida Estuarine Research Team (NERT) This is a committee that was created in 2010 to bring together partners to develop regional landscape-level habitat initiatives focused on the restoration and enhancement of estuarine habitats including coastal marsh, mangroves, oyster reefs and seagrass It is made up of representatives from state and federal agencies and nonprofits, including the SJRWMD, FWC, FL DEP, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and One Lagoon.

Finally, Northeast Florida is home to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR), a collaboration between Florida’s DEP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) The GTM NERR covers more than 76,000 acres of conservation lands in Northeast Florida from Ponte Vedra Beach to Palm Coast The GTM Research Reserve is one of 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves around the country that focuses on research, education, and stewardship In February 2023, staff at the GTM NERR hosted a What’s Next Coastal Wetlands Workshop to bring together coastal experts to learn about and address the values, threats, challenges, and opportunities for coastal wetland sustainability NFLT was able to attend this workshop and host a stakeholder listening session during this event In total, NFLT held twelve listening sessions involving stakeholders from state and local agencies, scientists from academia, a recreational fishing group, the Gullah/Geechee Nation, local landowners and resiliency offers While not conducted as formal listening sessions, NFLT had additional conversations about this project with a staff member from the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and a member of the Volusia County Association for Responsible Development

At both the in-person and virtual listening sessions NFLT gave a presentation to inform attendees of who NFLT is and our mission, how we got involved in salt marsh conservation, what SASMI is, the goals of the regional conservation plan, and the ways in which participants could contribute to this statewide plan Additionally, NFLT sought feedback on our GIS data layers which represented areas of existing salt marsh, future marsh migration space, conservation lands, and additional publicly owned lands with the intent to gain feedback on any data gaps, missing or inaccurate data, and additional datasets that may be useful to this project or future SASMI efforts

NFLT’s listening sessions were full of rich discussion and ideas on how to tackle the various issues facing coastal marsh conservation in Florida Our stakeholder listening session participants came from a widespread geographic area and had a diverse range of expertise in the myriad issues impacting salt marshes.

Key takeaways from the listening sessions:

Research/Data needs

A high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) corrected for vegetation is needed for Northeast Florida

Additional research is needed to determine exactly how marshes will migrate in the future

Recommended outreach

Agencies or individuals pursuing conservation or restoration activities should be sure to contact important but often overlooked stakeholder groups such as mosquito control districts, archaeologists, and local development associations

Management best practices

Edge monitoring and effective management practices can influence the success rate of future marsh migration.

Maintain areas of healthy marsh to ensure it remains healthy Include upland species in management plans to ensure their survival

Challenges and conflicts

Mangrove northward migration is inevitable, but what it means for Northeast Florida saltmarshes is unknown

The growth in space programming at Cape Canaveral and in the Merritt Island National Seashore may have important impacts on Brevard

County marshes

The Florida Sovereignty lands law presents challenges for land acquisition of salt marsh and for marsh restoration

Conservation Project Prioritization

The SASMI regional conservation plan outlines key strategies and crosscutting approaches to conserve and protect approximately one million acres of salt marshes in the South Atlantic region This Florida state specific plan was designed to complement the larger regional effort with specific next steps and potential project areas A major focus of NFLT’s listening sessions was to determine the specific areas of opportunity to protect existing salt marsh and future marsh migration areas.

NFLT sought feedback from experts on the types of data layers and ranking methodology that should be used to prioritize future conservation projects. From our listening sessions and consultations with state and local agencies, we received feedback that conserving marsh migration areas would be key to ensuring the long-term survival of salt marshes in Florida Experts also felt that acquiring lands near existing protected areas and public lands would be important for effective management and for buffering those areas from future development. Finally, parcels that are undeveloped, but are at risk of future development, should be prioritized for future conservation efforts

Many of our stakeholder meeting participants mentioned Florida’s sovereignty submerged lands law as conservation challenge that must be considered in the state of Florida They felt that the cost associated with a sovereign land determination could make acquisition of salt marsh prohibitively expensive Additionally, they questioned whether it made sense to purchase land that may already be, or become, state owned Participants also mentioned the urgency

of protecting marsh migration space Most properties located within the potential marsh migration space models contain significant, if not all upland acres These properties are under significant development pressure, especially those properties located within urban areas.

With this feedback in mind, NFLT developed criteria to score, rank and prioritize potential conservation projects First, we determined that the ranking criteria should focus primarily on parcels that contain future marsh migration space, as opposed to areas of salt marsh This is due to the sovereignty lands law challenges outlined above, as well as the increased development pressure on upland properties To build a prioritization model, NFLT used county 2022 parcel data to first select only parcels that contained future marsh migration space.

To begin prioritizing the parcel list, all parcels smaller than 10 acres were removed Larger parcels are preferred for conservation purposes, and this also eliminated the very small parcels located within housing developments. Then, parcels that were less than 10% covered by potential marsh migration space were removed For the purposes of this prioritization model, we wanted to select for parcels that contained the most potential marsh migration space

We then wanted to analyze the various characteristics of the remaining parcels, including property size, location, development status, and ecological value A binary code was used to denote a yes or no answer to a series of criteria that would help us rank the remaining parcels As these properties were already identified as suitable marsh migration space by TNC

Saw Pit Island, credit NFLT

Resilient Coastal sites model, we assumed that these parcels were the correct elevation for marsh migration and were located directly adjacent or within a close distance to existing salt marsh.

To further determine their suitability to become future marsh habitat, we wanted to know if these properties were vacant or developed Salt marsh will have the most potential to migrate inward to lands that are currently undeveloped, or where much of the parcel is undeveloped. To select for these parcels, highest priority was given to parcels that were vacant (i e tax rolls showed no buildings)

To determine the quality and ecological value of the parcels, we used the Florida Critical Lands and Water Identification Project (CLIP). The CLIP ranks properties based on their conservation significance for protecting biodiversity, landscape attributes, and high-quality surface water resources at the statewide scale This layer was used to rank each property’s ecological value in terms of current and future habitat. Parcels were also analyzed for their future development threat. Using the Florida 2070 model, parcels located within areas of future development (commercial, industrial, mixed use, or residential, except for very low rural residential), were given higher priority

Finally, we looked at parcels for their future management or buffering abilities. Parcels located directly adjacent to conservation or public lands were given higher priority Properties located within an existing Florida Forever project boundary were also given higher priority, as they would be eligible for state funding if the landowner is a willing seller

This ranking model resulted in a prioritized list of parcels Of a total 1,449 parcels, 12 ranked in the top tier with a score of 8, and 62 parcels ranked in the next highest tier with a score of 7 This list of 74 parcels would be the starting point for outreach to landowners with properties located in marsh migration areas. Of these 74 parcels, 50 fall within an existing Florida Forever project boundary These parcels would be eligible for state funding if the landowner is a willing seller

Now that we have identified a prioritized list of parcels that have suitable marsh migration space, ideal location near an existing conservation area, are currently undeveloped, and have high ecological value, NFLT can begin the process of sending letters and reaching out to the landowners of these parcels

In addition to hosting stakeholder listening sessions and conducting GIS analyses to determine high priority future projects, NFLT has also applied for various funding proposals specific to salt marsh conservation and climate resilience. The NOAA Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grant provides funds for land acquisition NFLT is also an important partner on two National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund grants These grants would assist with nature-based solutions to mitigate coastal hazards and address salt marsh migration corridor conservation The SASMI Community Capacity building grant would be a regional effort to support land acquisition and nature-based restoration solutions from North Carolina through Brevard County in Florida The Sustainable Living Shorelines Grant would support living shoreline projects in Duval County, Florida.

A map of the parcel prioritization is located below

Conservation Project Prioritization Model Results for the entire SASMI Project Area

Where We Are Now

SASMI’s Regional Plan for the Future of the South Atlantic Coast’s Million-Acre Salt Marsh Ecosystem outlines a high-level plan to achieve landscape-level conservation of one of the last vast areas of salt marshes within the United States The strategies outlined in the plan are intended to be a roadmap for stakeholders at all levels to work together to ensure the long-term abundance, health, and resilience of this vital natural resource The Conservation Planning and Outreach activities and priorities outlined in this article are from a more extensive report designed to complement the SASMI plan and provide specific recommendations and future projects to provide the basis for a path forward to conserve one million acres of salt marsh.

Big Talbot Island, credit NFLT

Together, with the SASMI coalition, we will “Marsh Forward” to conserve and protect the approximately one million acres of salt marshes in the South Atlantic region.

Clay County and NFLT

PARTNER ON A STRATEGIC CONSERVATION PLAN AND LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM

NFLT was engaged by the Clay County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to assist the County with determining the feasibility and nature of a locally funded land conservation program The County Commission sought this assistance in response to citizen concerns that the County was facing unprecedented development pressure. That pressure resulted in the conversion and loss of agricultural and natural lands A tipping point that was often expressed by residents was the construction of the First Coast Expressway through Clay County (map at right)

Clay County lags behind other Florida counties in the percentage of lands in conservation use

Excluding the acreage of the buffer for Joint Training Base Camp Blanding (this is not technically a conservation property), only 19% of Clay County is in conservation, far behind the average of 32% for other Florida counties (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, https://www.fnai.org/PDFs/MAxCounty 202301.pdf).

Clay County’s 0 3% locally owned conservation lands is an order of magnitude less than the 1 5% average for other Florida counties

The ideal outcome is that Clay County will adopt measures to expand its locally owned conservation lands to the state average of 1 5% by preserving an additional 5,936 acres in local conservation ownership To reach the State average of 32% in conservation use, the County should partner with state and federal partners to preserve an additional 115,636 acres.

The proposed Clay County program, like all state programs, most federal conservation programs, and other county programs in Florida, are “Willing Seller” only. This means the County may not use its power of condemnation nor eminent domain to acquire property for conservation Each acquisition is voluntarily negotiated, in good faith by both parties, in an “arm’s length” real estate transaction The term county-owned, as it is used in this context, applies to both county ownership in fee of lands and the county holding of conservation easements

The conservation goal can be achieved by creating sound strategies for the identification and preservation of appropriate lands across the county. Land suitable for conservation will need to meet multiple requirements including storm surge protection, species and habitat preservation, preservation of rural land uses, maintenance of scenic aesthetics, outdoor recreation, and more NFLT can assist the County in identifying those community conservation values that should be expressed in a local program, evaluate appropriate lands, develop a program for acquisition of those lands by the County, and facilitate appropriate partnerships to leverage additional funding and resources towards its goals

Benefits of a Strategic Conservation Plan

A strategic conservation plan will help Clay County identify, prioritize, pursue, and protect land that effectively achieves their mission and conservation objectives. Strategic Conservation Planning helps visualize a future for the community and charts a course to realize that vision A well-executed strategic conservation planning process will also include community input obtained using a defensible scientific process so that decision makers know that their decisions are sound and reflect community values. In addition, by having clearly identifiable goals, potential funding partners can easily identify joint priorities to bring outside funding to the table Using the plan, county staff and elected officials can understand what the community values and where the resources that community values are, to make educated decisions on how to create a park, open space, and preserve system Finally, developing a Conservation Plan early provides voters reassurance that the County is delivering on the transparency and accountability of this program, the funding stream, and the lands acquired.

Conservation Land Acquisition Program

The Conservation Land Acquisition Program implements the vision of the strategic conservation plan in Clay County. It sets out a sensible public and real estate process for the acquisition of conservation lands, covering the nomination, public decision making, and real estate process for acquisition. A nomination process for properties which can capture those lands which have conservation resources that were previously unknown is also part of the program The process below represents a linear path from public concern about the loss of their open spaces, to final acquisition and management of county-owned conservation lands Note: Each step in the figure below represents a milestone, some with a deliverable, which will be presented to County staff for approval before engaging any further steps

Clay County divided the evaluation process into two phases:

Phase 1 seeks to get consensus on the direction of a potential land conservation program

Phase 2 memorializes the results of Phase 1 and combines additional information from other stakeholders, the public and subject matter experts into a final report for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC)

NFLT completed Phase 1 in January 2023 with the BoCC workshop. NFLT is wrapping up Phase 2 and will present its findings and recommendations to the BoCC at its October 2023 meeting

Key Findings to Date

After presenting the County Commissioners with an outline of a local program and how one is set up and implemented, NFLT asked for consensus on two questions: 1.

Is there sufficient interest on the part of Clay County BoCC to work towards a November 2024 Referendum?

What are the conservation values of the Clay County BoCC?

There was unanimous agreement among the BoCC on Question 1; that NFLT and County staff should proceed with Phase 2 Phase 2 began with NFLT explaining to the BoCC the seven main conservation values or themes that are typically put before voters in local referenda These values are: Threatened & Endangered Species and Habitats; Surface Water Features; Drinking Water; Connectivity; Farms and Forests; Access to Recreation; and Historic and Cultural Resources.

After discussion and explanation of the values, NFLT posed Question 2 NFLT tasked the individual commissioners to place up to twelve dots indicating their most important conservation values on any of the seven posters depicting the aforementioned conservation value themes Commissioners were free to place as many of their twelve dots on a poster as they wished i e , they could place all twelve on one poster, or they could allocate their dots among several of the conservation values posters The results of that dot-matrix voting are summarized above, along with the results of the voting from the attendees of the three community and stakeholder meetings NFLT held in April 2023 The green cells indicate the top three values indicated by the BoCC The yellow cells are the top three values from both the BoCC and the community.

NFLT also published the presentation and the survey online for several weeks and sent targeted emails to registered Clay County voters’ emails to boost community awareness and participation in the survey. Those results and recommendations will be presented to the BoCC at their October meeting

A part of that presentation will be a heat map indicating the presence and extent of the conservation values. That heat map will show the general location of property(s) which best represent the conservation values as ranked by the BoCC and community The BoCC will be able to provide direction on the weighting and any reconciliation of differences between their top three values and the community’s top three The resulting heat map, findings, and recommendations will be sent to the BoCC in a final report by the end of CY2023

Should the BoCC continue to support progress towards a November 2024 referendum, NFLT will send a proposal to the County including plans for a feasibility study, legislative drafting, and timing for putting the referendum question before the voters.

The Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor

CHARTING PATHWAYS TO LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION IN FLORIDA

On June 15, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis approved the State of Florida’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Within Senate Bill 2500, the General Appropriations Act, an $850 million historic milestone for conserving lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor was signed into law With this critical step great progress has been made to save what remains of Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment While still subject to appraisals and provisions within Chapter 253 of the Florida Statutes, this appropriation is allocated for the purchase of lands within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Land Acquisition project and protection of the habitat for the federally endangered Florida panther as well as the acquisition of lands identified within the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor on the 2023 Florida Forever priority list approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (March 13, 2023)

The Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, or O2O (as it is otherwise known) lies right in your backyard if you live in North-Central Florida. Specifically, this corridor flows through twelve counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Hamilton, Lake, Marion, Putnam, Union, and Volusia The O2O is a critical linkage to the larger Florida Wildlife

Corridor, which is an 18-million-acre statewide network of lands marked for permanent protection At least 100 miles, or 1 6 million acres of public and private lands, could potentially connect two of Florida’s National Forests to each other, from Ocala National Forest in south-central Florida to Osceola National Forest in the north Priority lands within the O2O and the Florida Wildlife Corridor have been designated for this initiative through the keystone mapping layers of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN).

But why is a wildlife corridor so important to save? Think of a corridor as an “interstate” for wildlife Just like humans need pathways to migrate, so do animals. The O2O also provides habitat for a wide variety of species including the Florida black bear and imperiled species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, the indigo snake, and the gopher tortoise The O2O is important for water quality and flood control; the corridor's forests and wetlands help to filter storm water runoff, which reduces pollution and improves water quality. The O2O additionally helps to slow down and store floodwaters, which can help to protect communities from flooding Not just ecologically important, the O2O offers

significant economic benefits The corridor supports a variety of recreation and tourism opportunities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and hunting. The O2O supports and protects the state's agricultural industries which rely on the corridor's clean water and healthy soil Another benefit to a dedicated wildlife corridor is the dual purpose it can serve as a buffer for military installations Providing a natural buffer of green space around military bases creates a safe perimeter for training exercises and reduces the impact of noise on surrounding communities

It was only recently (2017) that a landscape partnership initiative of federal, state, non-profit, and private organizations was formed with the goal to protect 140,000 acres within the corridor by the year 2040. So, how close are we?

The O2O Partnership has continued to grow and expand in the past six years The partnership now boasts 26 members, and this synergy of conservation programs and organizations has reached landowners and acquired funding well beyond forecasted rates and targets and the rate of growth is only expected to continue

Several government organizations have funding available to spend immediately to conserve priority lands, a list of which are included below:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) - Florida Forever program (FF)

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

FDACS – Florida Forest Legacy Program

U S Army Environmental Command (USAEC) - Army Compatible Use Buffer program (ACUB)

U S Department of Defense (DOD) –Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program (REPI)

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) – Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

With each Farm Bill passed by the U S Congress, the U S Department of Agriculture allocates funding to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Through the NRCS the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) was created From the NRCS website: “The RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for both agriculture and conservation ”

Currently, the RCPP has $11 4 million allocated for U S Held Easements within the O2O and the NRCS is actively recruiting landowners to sign up. The initial sign-up period has closed for FY2023, but additional sign-up periods are planned through 2026, or until 100% of the funding is allocated There is also funding set aside for Entity-Held Easements and that application process (targeted for this fall) will be led by NFLT and the O2O Partnership as part of our most recent grant through the RCPP The O2O Partnership will support this effort by matching

funding through in-kind services, landowner outreach, and coordination of applications O2O partners such as the Putnam Land Conservancy have already submitted three landowner applications during this most recent sign-up period. Looking to the future, NFLT is currently working on submitting a 2023 RCPP proposal for additional funding for O2O Wildlife Corridor as a means to continue conservation efforts beyond 2026 This next round of grant funding has $500 million available

One of the ways NFLT and the O2O Partnership ensure collaboration and efficiency in their shared conservation strategy is through working groups Currently, there are two acquisitions working groups that meet monthly to plan and discuss funding and acquisition efforts the O2O Land Trusts Acquisitions Working Group and the O2O RCPP Acquisitions Working Group NFLT has a goal to collaborate with partners on additional working groups as opportunities continue to arise for conservation efforts We also are continuing to welcome new land trusts to the O2O Partnership initiative; our most recent new members being the Trust for Public Land and Alachua County Forever Both will be great resources and assets in the quest to expand the knowledge of the O2O and landscape conservation statewide

Through the RCPP, NFLT was awarded funding to collaborate with the University of Florida (UF) regarding several outcome assessments at dataset and landscape levels. Implementation of these outcomes could help organizations, not just in the O2O Partnership but throughout the state and even as a model for land trusts nationwide, with researching priority lands for conservation

GIS Digital Interpretation of the O2O: The O2O Partnership Story Map and Interactive Viewer by Sarah Lockhart was completed in July 2023.

GIS Based Parcel Management Tool to Forecast Impact of Water Yield to Forests: Phase 1 of the project by Dr Katie Glodzik was completed in June 2023

Economic and Social Outcomes Relating to Carbon Sequestration / Impact to Land Value of a Perpetual Conservation Easement: This project(s) is in progress and led by Dr. Tamara Cushing.

Expected to be released later this year, NFLT and others partnered with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to coordinate a film of the landscape within the O2O. Ocala to Osceola: Operation Connect, Protect, and Restore follows the journey of three military veterans participating in a triathlon-style trek through the O2O They paddle the Ocklawaha River, bike and hike segments on the Florida National Scenic Trail, engage with the community to learn about the local benefits of conserving green space and working lands, and end with a celebration at Camp Blanding Stay tuned for more information and screening opportunities when it is released

A land trust engaging and staying connected throughout the life cycle of a conservation initiative, all the way from parcel identification to restoration, and even beyond, is essential to the health and sustainability of conservation success Without collaborations like the O2O Partnership, the growth opportunities for conserving land and leaving a natural Florida legacy behind for future generations would be a dream The underlying theme of the mission of the O2O Partnership and the land conservation organizations that support it can be summed up in the words of NFLT President and CEO Allison DeFoor: “It is now or never. If we are going to protect this land…if we are going to make sure our grandchildren get to see what Florida really looks like, it has got to be now or never ”

"It is now or never.

If we are going to protect this land… if we are going to make sure our grandchildren get to see what Florida really looks like, it has got to be now or never."

In the News

NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST RECEIVED A $510,000 GRANT FROM DELORES BARR WEAVER LEGACY FUND FOR TWO INITIATIVES

July 2023 – North Florida Land Trust received a $510,000 grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida for two important initiatives; the creation and rollout of its new membership program and the purchase of essential stewardship equipment to help maintain the nonprofit’s 26 preserves and future conservation lands

NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST ROLLS OUT NEW BRANDING PACKAGE AND NEW MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST HAS ACQUIRED NEARLY 219 ACRES ALONG THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY

February 2023 – North Florida Land Trust purchased nearly 219 acres at a bargain price along the Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to NFLT’s River Branch Islands Preserve The land was sold to NFLT by Atlantic Beach Holding Company, a group of heirs of Harcourt Bull, the first mayor of Atlantic Beach, and his wife, Florence The family had owned the land since about 1949 and has a great fondness for the property along with cherished memories of their time spent in the salt marsh The heirs decided to sell it at a bargain price with the difference in actual cost considered a donation to NFLT to preserve it forever in its natural state

April 2023

North Florida Land Trust has changed its look and now has a new way for the community to get involved The nonprofit land conservation organization debuted its new branding package in April along with a new membership program The new logo utilizes fresh colors and vivid natural images, along with a new tagline, “In Land We Trust ” The new membership program was created to engage supporters on a whole new level with opportunities for an inside look at many of the nonprofit’s special projects and properties

NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST AND PARTNERS HOST O2O EXPEDITION KICK-OFF AND GATEWAY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

February 2023 – North Florida Land Trust joined the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, the Florida Trail Association, Friends of Ravine Gardens, and premiere sponsor Calhoun International for the O2O Expedition Kick-Off and Gateway Community Celebration in February Three military veterans took part in the “Ocala to Osceola: Operation Connect, Protect, and Restore” Expedition which was a four-day journey that took them through the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor, a 1 6-million-acre network of public and private lands that connect the Ocala and Osceola National Forests The veterans had an opportunity to explore the corridor as they made the triathlon trek

NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST HAS HELPED TO PROTECT LITTLE TIGER ISLAND IN NASSAU COUNTY

January 2023 – North Florida Land Trust helped to protect more than 565 acres in Nassau County known as Little Tiger Island Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the property for acquisition through the Florida Forever Program The property connects a network of protected lands and waters along the Florida-Georgia border from St Andrew Sound in Georgia to the St Johns River, which includes Fort Clinch State Park, Cumberland Island National Seashore and the Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserve NFLT facilitated much of the due diligence necessary to acquire the property and secured a $1 million grant from the U S Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program The state funded the remaining $1,965,000 purchase price and will maintain and steward the land

How t Get In

If you, like us, believe that the conservation of North Florida is vital, there are many ways you can help. Together we will continue to build our land trust to be as robust and expansive as our region’s natural resources. Here is how you can help.

GIVE

Our mission is to protect la land, the more land we ca

HELP

Opportunities to give with your hands are available throughout the year We regularly hold cleanup days to remove trash and conduct maintenance on our preserves

ADVOCATE

Much of the funding needed to conserve land in North Florida comes from public sources, like Florida Forever. To continue to preserve the parts of Florida that are quickly disappearing, we need our local, state and federal representatives to prioritize the funding of conservation. You can ask your representatives to ensure these sources grow in their commitment to conservation.

SHARE

Lastly, as a conservationist and a member of the NFLT family, we hope you’ll share with your network the good work we are accomplishing together The threat of over-development continues to grow aggressively, and with it our need to act quickly To meet our goals, we’ll need our family to grow Whether you share the mission of NFLT in person or online, you’ll help to spread the word and grow our region’s understanding of the importance of conservation