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This project identifies existing conservation areas in Florida that provide essential land base for protecting rare species and natural communities. It focuses on 40 focal species, including Sherman's Fox Squirrel, Gopher Tortoise, Gopher Frog, Florida Mouse, Sand Skink, and Eastern Indigo Snake. The maps created help guide land acquisition, conservation, planning, and regulatory programs at various levels.
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44 focal species and rare natural communities • Florida Natural Areas Inventory, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission • boundaries of public lands
Sherman’s Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger shermani )
Gopher Frog (Rana capito)
Florida Mouse(Podomys floridana Sand Skink (Neoseps reynoldsi)
Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi
Of the 40 focal species subjected to this analysis, 30 were found not to have this minimum level of protection on public lands.
So they then determined those lands that are essential to providing some of the state’s rarest animals, plants, and natural communities with the land base necessary to sustain populations into the future.
STRATEGIC HABITAT CONSERVATION AREAS
Potential black bear habitat within 50 km of existing conservation areas with stable black bear populations.
USE OF THESE MAPS Project maps are intended to help guide land acquisition, land conservation, land-use planning, and regulatory programs at many levels. The maps represent our best estimate of those Florida lands that require some form of conservation to ensure that biodiversity is maintained for future generations.
Landscape approach vs Site-specific approach
Traditional Land Use Planning: concentrates on the characteristics of the particular site under study, with little or no consideration of surrounding features or impacts
System wide Focus It is felt by many that the failure over the past decades to adequately protect native ecosystems and landscapes was largely due tosite-specific approach to environmental reviewand permitting. To that end, many of today’s environmental planning and design programs emphasize and incorporate a system-wide focus to ensure that all characteristics and potential ramifications are considered.
Fragmentation Fragmentation is the separation of habitat in a landscape. It means chopping a wild place into pieces by putting a road , fence, house, building, powerline, etc. through it. Some species will refuse to cross even a dirt road. Some species will cross a road to their demise.
Greenways System Planning Project developed the “Statewide Ecological Network.”
“Connecting Florida’s Communities with Greenways and Trails.”
The Executive Summary recommended: “It is essential that the Ecological Network be incorporated into the planning process....” pp. 12-13.
“It is essential that the Ecological Network be incorporated into the planning process…”
What is aStatewide Greenways System Purpose? • maintenance and restoration of connectivity, of ecological systems • It is also intended to create the opportunity fortrail users • It is further intended to protect sites and landscapes of cultural and historic significance.
Identification of Critical Linkages Within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network • A report prepared by the • University of Florida, GeoPlan Center • for the • Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways & Trails • July, 2002
For more information, contact: • Dr. Tom Hoctor • University of Florida, GeoPlan Center • P.O. Box 115704 • Gainesville, FL 32611-5704 • Phone: 352-392-50374 • Or • Jim Wood, Assistant Director • Office of Greenways & Trails • Florida Department of Environmental Protection • 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 795 • Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000 • Phone: 850-245-2052 • 2
Gaps Study 1994 Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas Greenways System Planning Project • Florida Ecological Greenways Network Critical Linkages Within the Florida Ecological Greenways