The following press release was sent by Heather Obara, Associate Director of Alachua Conservation Trust.
In these days of our fast-diminishing environmentally sensitive areas of North Central Florida which are no longer protected by our taxpayer-funded state agencies, ACT stands out as a stalwart defender for our natural treasures. Land acquisition is about the nearest thing we can come to security for our environment, and even conservation lands may not be totally safe from greedy political whims backed by money.
ACT has emerged as a major player in conserving our riverfronts and sensitive lands for future generations. Our most heartfelt congratulations and gratitude go the Tom Kay, Heather Obara and all those at Alachua Conservation Trust.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2022
Alachua Conservation Trust
Heather Obara, Associate Director
352-373-1078
info@alachuaconservationtrust.org
ACT Awarded $7.85 Million by USDA for Forest to Gulf Regional Conservation
Partnership Program
Gainesville, Florida – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced
$197 million in federal funding for 41 locally-led conservation projects through the
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Included in those projects is
Alachua Conservation Trust’s (ACT) Forest to Gulf RCPP, which has been awarded
$7.85 million to expand conservation programs in North Central Florida. ACT’s project
was the only Florida-based RCPP awarded in 2022.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is administered through the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and is designed to expand Farm Bill
conservation by leveraging the resources of public-private partnerships. ACT’s Forest to
Gulf RCPP project area encompasses parts of Marion, Alachua, Levy, Putnam, Sumter
Citrus, and Hernando counties, and is home to longleaf pine and critical wildlife habitat.
In addition, it contains large wetlands and floodplains associated with the Suwannee and
Withlacoochee Rivers, as well as one of the State’s largest estuaries along the Nature
Coast.
ACT will lead the Forest to Gulf partnership, which includes state and federal agencies,
local government, other nonprofit organizations, and private stakeholder groups.
Notably, this award will compliment other local and state land protection programs,
including Alachua County Forever, Florida Forever, and the Rural and Family Lands
Protection Program. In addition, it will expand funding for private lands management,
with an emphasis on prescribed burning and forest management to improve wildlife
habitat. This is the second USDA NRCS project for ACT, which was awarded $7.1
million in 2021 for its Surface to Springs RCPP project in the lower Suwannee River
basin.
“We are thrilled to receive this RCPP award,” said ACT executive director Tom Kay.
“As one of Florida’s fastest growing areas, the Forest to Gulf region is in tremendous
need of expanded conservation efforts, and we look forward to working with NRCS and
our many partners to implement this program. It takes the combined efforts of public and
private partners to implement large-scale conservation and this project provides the
foundation for that effort.”
The Forest to Gulf region is a rural landscape of farms and timberlands interspersed with
large natural landscapes, including a large section of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. As
development increases in the region, natural and rural landscapes are increasingly
important for wildlife habitat and estuary protection. The Forest to Gulf RCPP award is
made possible with partner contributions that will provide over $22 million for
conservation easements, conservation lands acquisition, and private land management
practices. In addition, the program will offer expanded opportunities for education,
research, and outreach to historically underserved landowners.
“By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP
demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture
and conservation,” said Juan Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist for Florida. “We
are excited to work with ACT and all of the contributing partners who have experience,
expertise, and capacity to successfully carry out this project.”
The Forest to Gulf RCPP will extend through 2026. In addition to NRCS, there are
several contributing partners that will help make this project possible, including Alachua
County, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Forest Service,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Stetson University, University of
Florida, Wildlands Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife
Federation, Putnam Land Conservancy, North Florida Prescribed Burn Association,
Equine Land Conservation Resource, and the Cultural Arts Coalition.
“This is just the sort of innovative collaboration we need to meet the challenges we face
in conservation today,” said Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia. “ACT is at the
forefront of exploring ways we can work with private landholders to find common
ground and provide support for their stewardship of our environment. I look forward to
their leadership in providing opportunities to work with working lands to protect our
natural resources and critical habitat.”
About Alachua Conservation Trust
ACT is an accredited non-profit land trust working to protect the natural, historic, scenic
and recreational resources in and around North Central Florida. Since 1988, ACT has
been instrumental in facilitating the conservation of nearly 56,000 acres of Florida land,
including the direct purchase and protection of over 24,500 acres. ACT primarily works
in 16 counties, owns and manages over 6,000 acres, and has collaborated with private
landowners to protect an additional 6,212 acres through conservation easements.
About NRCS RCPP
First authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP has leveraged partner contributions of more
than $1 for every $1 invested by USDA, resulting in nearly $3 billion collectively
invested in natural resource conservation on private lands. Since inception, RCPP has
made 589 awards involving over 3,000 partner organizations. Currently there are 401
active projects, with at least one active project in every state and area. Successful RCPP
projects provide innovative conservation solutions, leverage partner contributions and
offer impactful and measurable outcomes.
To learn more, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-
1078.
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Alachua Conservation Trust
7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville, FL 32641
www.AlachuaConservationTrust.org
