View 2018 Annual Report

18ANNUAL REPORT A LETTER FROM OUR LEADERSHIP SUCCESSES FROM THE PRESIDENT ACCREDITATION WOW! What a year! Given our success in the past couple of years, I suspected In February 2018, North Florida Land Trust was incred- another good year in 2018 and we sure had one! We completed 11 land protec- ibly honored and proud to announce we had been ac- tion projects totaling over 6,000 acres, added five new easements, received two credited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, awards for historic preservation and one for our environmental contribution to the an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. Ac- region. Our partnerships with Camp Blanding, Clay County Economic Development creditation is a remarkably detailed process that leaves Authority, the National Park Service, Florida DEP Division of State Lands, Cities of no stone unturned and demonstrates a commitment to Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach and Fernandina Beach and several landowners and professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s developers have strengthened and deepened. Our volunteers contributed hundreds trust in our work. NFLT has been saving open and nat- of hours to our mission. Our donors and supporters came through when most needed. ural spaces since 1999 and this national recognition shows our commitment to permanent land conservation In other work, NFLT donated its Spanish American War Fort along the bluffs of Fort Caroline to the National Park throughout our 11-county focus area and beyond. We Service and facilitated a successful resolution to development efforts in the Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve. are proud of this distinction that makes us stand out- A look ahead tells us to expect even more in 2019! Among other efforts, we will open our first public park, continue you can trust us! A donor, large or small, will know we working to improve and restore habitat for gopher tortoises and migrating birds, sell our first water quality trading operate to the highest standards and are among the credit and acquire more environmentally sensitive lands. very best in the country. Accreditation recognizes NFLT has demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, re- Our heartiest thanks go to you – one of our many supporters who have given generously and invested in our mission, sponsible governance, and lasting stewardship. so we can protect more of the lands and waters we all love. We look forward to conserving more of our region’s special places in the future – and we know that with your continued support, we will succeed in our efforts. Nearly 20 million acres of farms, forests and natural areas vital to healthy communities are now permanent- There is a lot in store for 2019. Be part of it! ly conserved by an accredited land trust. Architects, en- gineers, contractors, and building owners should know that working with an accredited land trust will earn Jim McCarthy, President credit to LEED certification. Invest in us. We have proven we are a strong, effective organization you can trust to conserve your land forever. FROM THE BOARD CHAIR In looking back on 2018, it was a stellar year for the North Florida Land Trust. Over the course of the year, we acquired large amounts of acreage, enjoyed record contributions, established and extended partnerships with federal, state, and city governments and agencies to pursue our mission. This was made possible by support from all of you; our donors, event sponsors, and supporters. You enable us to pursue our common interests and to achieve great things together. AWARDS We take your trust very seriously and work diligently each day to continue earning 2018 Regional Award for your support. We strive to be good stewards of donated funds and our mission, Excellence in Environmental Stewardship and will continue to preserve the great wild lands of North Florida for today, for tomorrow and forever. 2018 Florida Preservation Award Thank you. from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Keith Holt, Board Chair 2018 Historic Preservation Award from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission 2 | NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 FINANCIALS PARTNERSHIPS & GRANTS OCALA TO OSCEOLA (O2O) PARTNERSHIP THE O2O PARTNERSHIP INCLUDES: Partner Funding 87% REVENUE AND SUPPORT: The O2O Wildlife Corridor (O2O) is a region of natural Florida Department of Environmental and rural lands that connect the Ocala and Osceola Na- Protection tional Forests. About 1.6 million acres of publicly and pri- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Direct Public Support $2,178,850 vately-owned forestlands comprise the O2O. The O2O Commission Florida Water Management Districts: St. Partner Funding $15,673,299 is part of the larger Florida Wildlife Corridor, which is Johns River WMD, Suwannee River WMD the statewide conservation blueprint that includes most of Florida Department of Agriculture and Other Types of Income $115,093 Florida’s remaining wild lands. Importantly, most O2O private Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service lands are already identified by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Dept. Military Affairs, Camp Total Revenue: $17,967,242 as eligible for conservation acquisition. Blanding Joint Training Center Department of Defense, U.S. Navy The “Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Partnership” is a group of Federal and State land U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Direct Public U.S. Forest Service management agencies and nonprofit organizations lead by NFLT, working together Support 12% Other Income 1% U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation toward common goals for the O2O: wildlife and imperiled species habitat conser- Service vation, water quality protection, protection of working forests, and safeguarding Florida Trail Association military readiness on Camp Blanding. The Partnership has the ambitious goal of Florida Wildlife Corridor 140,000 acres protected by 2040 and has made great strides toward this goal in Alachua Conservation Trust EXPENSES: Projects 92% Putnam Land Conservancy the first year of the Partnership. The Nature Conservancy Projects $17,142,211 North Florida Land Trust North Florida Prescribed Burning Association Operations $1,430,960 Fundraising $99,647 Total Expense: $18,672,818 NRCS-NFLT PARTNERSHIP ACUB: The Camp Blanding Joint Training Center Fundraising 1% Operations 8% In 2018, NFLT was recognized as an official partner A.C.U.B. stands for Army Compatible Use Buffer - a of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program of the armed forces to create conservation for conservation work in the O2O through the Regional “buffers” around military installations to reduce conflicts * Amounts have not been audited and are subject to change Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This award between military training and residential housing. NFLT earmarks approximately $3.5 million for O2O land works with Camp Blanding, home of Florida’s Army and protection and private land conservation management Air National Guard, to preserve land around the instal- through 2023. lation and to add to land in the O2O, for which Camp Blanding is a major component. Camp Blanding assists NFLT AWARD FROM THE U.S. ENDOWMENT NFLT in financing the purchase of land and easements. FOR FORESTRY & COMMUNITIES SUWANNEE RIVER WATER In 2018 NFLT received a grant from the U.S. Endow- MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ment, a non-profit organization funded by several Federal agencies. Importantly, this grant directly sup- NFLT forged a new relationship with Suwannee River ports NFLT’s capacity to implement O2O conservation Water Management District in 2018. NFLT will aid the programs, direct the O2O Partnership and accelerate District in acquiring conservation land within their Dis- our land protection goals. trict to protect natural lands and water resources. 4 | NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 5 LAND WE CONSERVED µ Conservation Easement 39 ACRES 2018 New Conservation NFLT Preserved Lands AT A GLANCE Newly acquired Clay 3,385 County Preserve ACRES PURCHASED Conservation Easement 12 ACRES 59 ACRES TRANSFERRED TO NFLT Conservation Easement 8 ACRES Putnam Lakes Preserve 2,551 ACRES OF EASEMENTS PURCHASED Guana River Pre- Trail Ridge Preserve serve Additions (3) 14.5 2,100 ACRES 6 ACRES ACRES OF FACILITATED PROPERTY 3.5 Sixmile Creek ACRES DONATED Preserve Addition 57 ACRES Conservation Easement 2,057 ACRES Conservation Easement Sixmile Creek Preserve 494 ACRES Top Left: Putnam Lakes Preserve (Photo: A. Cologne); Top Right: Newly acquired Clay County Preserve (Photo: S. Carr); Bottom: Richard Bryant, stewardship volunteer, kayaks through our Sixmile Creek Preserve during a monitoring visit (Photo: A. Cologne) Little Rain Lake Preserve 465 ACRES OUR BIGGEST YEAR YET: 2018 was NFLT’s biggest year on record, protecting with its 5 lakes, 1.5 miles of Little Orange Creek, and more than 6,000 acres of land. We completed our pine and oak forests, as well as further additions to our Putnam Lakes Preserve largest conservation easement to date, at greater than Little Rain Lake Preserve. We also acquired five prop- 690 ACRES 2,057 acres. We also completed our second largest ac- erties in our Preservation Portfolio, lands targeted for quisition in our history, and largest upland acquisition, their supreme importance to Northeast Florida. As we in the 2,169-acre Trail Ridge Preserve. We acquired celebrated our record year, we are just beginning to additional gems, such as the Putnam Lakes Preserve, wind up for even more good work in 2019. 6 | NORTH FLORIDA LAND TRUST 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | 7 STEWARDSHIP STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS Bogey Creek Preserve Stewardship staff are working diligently to make improve- ments to Bogey Creek Preserve. Acquired in 2017, the property will be NFLT’s first public preserve. The preserve will feature a hiking trail, picnic area and stunning views of cy- press swamps, hardwood forests and coastal marshes. Sev- eral events will be planned around the park’s opening date this spring, so stay tuned! AT A GLANCE Little Rain Lake Preserve Acquired in 2017, Little Rain Lake Preserve is comprised of a unique longleaf pine sandhill ecosystem.

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