Jennings State Forest the Florida Forest Service Voluntarily Participates in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Program
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STATE FOREST SPOTLIGHT Tings to Know Florida Forest Service Sustainable Forestry Initiative® When Visiting Jennings State Forest The Florida Forest Service voluntarily participates in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program. The Sustainable • Day use is allowed 1 ½ hours before sunrise to Forestry Initiative program integrates the 1 ½ hours afer sunset. Jennings perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, • Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. plants, soils, and water. • Rope swings or diving from stream banks or trees is prohibited. State Forest Jennings State Forest is certified to the SFI forest management standards. We are • Drive on designated open roads only. proud to be part of a growing community • Creating new roads or trails is prohibited. of landowners, conservation groups and • Of-Highway vehicles are prohibited. responsible companies all working towards improving forest management. • Foot trafc, bicycles and horses are welcome on designated trails. • Take all garbage with you when leaving the forest where waste containers are not provided. • Primitive camping is available in designated sites only on a frst-come, frst-serve basis. Fees apply. Love the state forests? So do we! • Visitors may be required to pay entrance or recreation use fees in designated areas. Annual Day Use Entrance Passes are available at Te Friends of Florida State Forests is a direct- Jennings State Forest Ofce. support organization of the Florida Forest Service dedicated to ensuring Florida’s state forests are • Fuelwood permits are available only in available for future generations to enjoy. Make a designated areas. Permit may be obtained at diference by joining today to help protect Florida’s Jennings State Forest Ofce Monday-Friday forests. 8a.m.– 5p.m. • Hunting is allowed with proper permit and Membership dues go to the forests for conservation license in designated areas during appropriate and improvement projects. To join Friends or for seasons. For information on hunting or fshing, more information, visit: please visit www.MyFWC.com. www.FloridaStateForests.org For more information, visit: www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DACS-P-00148 Rev. 11-2019 History Natural Resources In 1990 the frst major acquisitions of Jennings Tis 25,301 acre forest is located in both State Forest were purchased by the State of Florida’s northwestern Clay County and southern Duval Conservation and Recreation Lands, Preservation County. Jennings State Forest has more than 2000, and the Save Our Rivers programs. Te goal 15 diferent natural community types. Some of of these programs is to protect the North Fork of the communities found here include sandhills, Black Creek and Yellow Water Creek, as well as fatwoods, seepage slopes and dome swamps. Te the upland areas that border these outstanding high quality condition of these communities is waterways. Te state forest was purchased from exemplifed by the diversity of plants and animals the heirs of former Florida Governor William S. found within them. Jennings, the namesake of this forest. William S. Jennings served in the Florida Legislature from Plants such as Bartram’s ixia, purple honeycomb- 1893 to 1895, held the Ofce of Governor from head, tarfower and several varieties of orchids can 1901 to 1905. Forest view from the wildlife observation tower all be found on Jennings State Forest. Te fowers of these unique plants make the forest alive with In 1910, Jennings and his business partners color throughout the spring, summer and early purchased 60,000 acres of land near the North fall. Some commonly observed animals include Fork of Black Creek and formed the Artesian Farm the Sherman’s fox squirrel, alligator, bobcat, deer Land Company of Middleburg. Te property and turkey. Many birds can also be seen, especially was managed to produce forest products such as during migrational periods. Te diversity and lumber and naval stores. Cattle grazing was also a quality of the natural resources on Jennings State major agricultural activity on the property. Today, Forest have been well documented and have approximately 21,000 acres of the original Artesian attracted research interests from various disciplines. Farm Company make up Jennings State Forest. Forestry Te Florida Forest Service’s mission is to protect Prescribed fre ignition and manage the forest resources of Florida, Recreation ensuring that they are available for future Jennings State Forest is open during daylight generations. Te Florida Forest Service manages hours for picnicking, swimming, hiking, canoeing, more than one million acres of state forest land for horseback riding, fshing and wildlife viewing. multiple public uses including timber, recreation Overnight primitive camping is allowed at three and wildlife habitat. Management practices on designated campgrounds with a Camping Fee Jennings State Forest focus on the restoration and Permit, available in Iron Ranger Fee Boxes located maintenance of natural ecosystems, sustainable at the trailheads. Te Fire and Water Trail, North forest management, wildlife habitat, recreation and Fork Black Creek Trail, and Dunn’s Farm Trail the preservation of water resources. are included in the FFS Trailwalker Program. Te Evans Horse Trails are included in the Trailtrotter Prescribed fre is one of the management tools used Program. Participants in these programs are by the Florida Forest Service, mimicking natural rewarded afer hiking/horseback riding a number fre regimes while reducing wildfre risk. Ecological of designated trails. restoration, wildlife habitat improvement and disease and pests control are benefts of prescribed Bearded Grass Pink Orchid Jennings State Forest is a Wildlife Management fre. Timber management is a valuable tool used For more information contact: Area. Hunting permits are required for all hunts in the restoration and maintenance of natural Jennings State Forest except small game hunts. We encourage all visitors communities. Timber sales follow Silvicultural 1337 Long Horn Road to check Wildlife Management Area regulations Best Management Practices, generating revenue Middleburg, FL 32068 and hunt season dates before visiting the forest. that helps ofset operating costs for the forest while Telephone (904)406-6390 For further information on hunting visit www. strengthening the local economy. www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests MyFWC.com. .