Conservation

Wildlife conservation usually involves sensible and careful use of wildlife resources. Often we have only to enhance or improve existing wildlife habitat to increase its value to a wildlife enterprise, but if the habitat is severely degraded, then a rehabilitative or replacement approach may be necessary. If you are considering a wildlife-related enterprise for your farm, an initial inventory and assessment of existing wildlife and habitat is a good place to start.

Technical assistance is available for you through County, Wildlife, and Forestry Extension Services. And once you have established goals for managing your wildlife and habitat, an agent can also advise you on cost share, easement, and assistance programs to help you finance and plan your enterprise. Below are several links to specific information on the management and conservation of wildlife and habitat.

Cost Share Programs

State & Federal Agencies

• Caring for Your Forest With a Forest Stewardship Plan--USDA Forest Service
• Conservation Reserve Program--USDA
• Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002: Overview of Selected Provisions of Interest to Florida Farmers--Florida Farm Bureau (pdf)
• Farm Service Agency Online (pdf)
• Forestry and Wildlife Cost Share Programs--Florida Division of Forestry/FDACS
• NRCS Conservation Programs--USDA
• USDA Service Center Locator

Other University Sites

• Working Trees for the 2002 Farm Bill--University of Nebraska-Lincoln (pdf)

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Conservation Easements

UF/IFAS Publications

• Comprehensive Conservation Planning
• Conservation Easements: Options for Preserving Current Land Uses
• Conservation Options for Private Landowners in Florida
• The Ecology and Economics of Florida Ranches
• Effective Management for Frogs and Toads on Florida’s Ranches
• Evaluating Private Lands for Conservation of Wildlife
• Farmers’ Opinions about Bird Conservation and Pest Management on Organic and Conventional North Florida Farms
• Florida’s Bird Sanctuary Program (pdf)
• Florida Fence and Property Law: Easements and Rights-of-way
• Management of Pine Forests for Selected Wildlife in Florida
• Paying Private Landowners to Conserve Wildlife Habitat: A Unique Approach to Conservation

State & Federal Agencies

• Agricultural Conservation Easements Fact Sheet--Farmland Information Center (FIC) (pdf)
• Florida’s Mitigation Park Program
• Why Save Farmland? America's Agricultural Land is At Risk--FIC (pdf)

Organizations & Associations

• American Farmland Trust
• Conservation in America: Florida--The Biodiversity Partnership
• Conservation Easements: Protections in Perpetuity--Ducks Unlimited
• A Critical Mass Approach to Farmland Protection--Scenic Hudson
• Farmland Protection--Scenic Hudson
• How We Work: Conservation Methods--The Nature Conservancy
• The Land Trust Alliance

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Conservation & Restoration Techniques

UF/IFAS Sites

• Landscaping for Wildlife
• School of Natural Resources and Environment

UF/IFAS Publications

• Comprehensive Conservation Planning

State & Federal Agencies

• Planning Tools: Conservation Corridors Planning at the Landscape Level: Managing for Wildlife Habitat--NRCS/USDA

Other University Sites

• Edible Woody Landscapes for People and Wildlife--University of Nebraska-Lincoln (pdf)
• Low Cost Habitat Improvement--North Carolina Cooperative Extension (pdf)
• Pools for Amphibians--North Carolina Cooperative Extension (pdf)
• Managing Edges for Wildlife--North Carolina Cooperative Extension (pdf)
• Managing Wildlife--North Carolina Cooperative Extension
• Using Fire to Improve Wildlife Habitat--North Carolina Cooperative Extension (pdf)
• Wildlife Management Information--Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Woodland Wildlife Nest Boxes--North Carolina Cooperative Extension (pdf)
• Working Trees for Wildlife--University of Nebraska-Lincoln (pdf)

Organizations & Associations

• Florida Native Plant Society
• PrivateForest.org

Related Links

• Growing With the Flow: A New Way of Growing Trees Offers Promise for Restoring the Mighty Oak Along the Missouri River and Other Inland Waterways--Columbia Daily Tribune

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