Catapult:Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative, Florida

5/1/2016

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/evergladesheadwaters/pdf/greaterevergladesfactsheet.pdf

Introduction:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with other partnership groups, are creating a collaborative leadership approach to address landscape-scale land protection efforts in south-central Florida. This approach is known as the Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative. This initiative endeavors to help conserve the land, water, and wildlife resources of the Greater Everglades. The article explains the importance of analysis of the conservation plan and separates them into three categories: Everglades Headwaters area, the Fish eating Creek area, and the area around the Florida Panther.

1. Context

2. Working cooperatively with ranchers and other landowners to protect wildlife, habitat, and a rural working agricultural landscape.

3. Planning for a proposed new 150,000-acre refuge, the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, including landowner and local communities in the planning process.

4. Applying multiple ecosystem service instruments, such as conservation easements, leases, and landowner assistance grants and agreements, as well as fee title acquisition and wetland, conservation, and mitigation banks.

5. Connecting to existing conservation lands and lands set aside through Habitat Conservation Plans.

6. Simplifying the regulatory permitting processes for lands identified within the proposed study areas.

7. Actors

8. Federal Government: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Air Force, Avon Park Air Force Range.

9. State Government: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Division of State Lands.

10. Non-Governmental Organizations: The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Refuge Association.

11. Federal Government: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

12. Tribal Governments: Seminole Tribe of Florida, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

13. State and Local Government: Southwest Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Division of Historic Resources, Southwest Florida and East Central Florida Regional Planning Councils, Additional State Agencies and Local Governments.

14. Non-Governmental Organizations/ Individuals: Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Cattleman’s Association, Ranchers, Key Community Leaders.

15. Theme

16. Organizations manage existing conservation lands within this landscape and have identified goals, objectives, and projects similar to those identified in this Initiative for conservation in this area.

17. Support and conduct education and outreach activities to build awareness and understanding of conservation activities within this landscape through private and public interest.

18. Goal to protect and connect 850,000 acres and restore 150,000 acre-feet natural wetland hydrology to contribute to the restoration of the Everglades ecosystem. Improve the sustainability of the ranching industry using conservation easements, payments for ecosystem services, and other tools. Work with Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm Bill programs to restore the Everglades ecosystem n Increase wetland restoration targets in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project. Develop an ecosystem services program that will provide incentives for dispersed water storage, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat restoration and increase the sustainability of ranching in the Northern Everglades.

19. Manage 106,000 acres within this landscape, including wildlife and habitat management activities and outdoor public recreation. n Evaluate partnership opportunities under the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative

20. Action

21. Conduct Public Scoping January-February 2011

22. Develop Draft Land Protection Plan and NEPA Document March-May 2011

23. Conduct Public Review and Comment on Proposal June 2011

24. Develop Final Plan 2011

25. Power

26. NRCS funded the Fish-eating Creek Special Project which brought about 26,080 acres in the Initiative area into the Wetlands Reserve Program. In FY 2011 approximately 45 new Wetland Reserve Program and Grassland Reserve Program applications total approximately 37,000 acres in the proposed new refuge area. In FY 2011 NRCS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Florida Water Management District to work together to implement Farm Bill programs.

27. Underlying cause

28. Partnership-driven approach to land conservation and management, landowners, and citizens.

29. To put the best wildlife adaptation strategies into action on the ground, forming the linkages, corridors, and habitat core necessary to assist species to adapt to changing climate conditions.

1. Long-Term Efficacy

2. To contribute to overall conservation efforts in the area.

3. Thresholds

4. Initiative would converge, build, and compliment multiple public and private conservation activities within this landscape to protect habitat for imperiled species;

5. Restore water quality and filtration functions, groundwater recharge, and hydrological systems that will materially benefit residents of south Florida.

6. Provide a new model for working with large family ranches and landowners to help sustain the rural and ranching way of life in Florida.

7. Increase opportunities for wildlife conservation education and youth engagement by establishing a new national wildlife refuge near major population centers.

8. Promote Florida tourism and travel industries to boost economy.