FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2013
DEP AWARDED $1.75 MILLION TO CONSERVE NEARLY 21,000 ACRES BUFFERING EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE
~Purchase, which requires Board of Trustees approval, will complete Florida Forever project~
TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Trust for Public Land and landowner M.C. Davis are partnering to conserve 20,850 acres of critical habitat land east of Eglin Air Force Base after being awarded $1.75 million from the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the 2013 REPI Challenge.
The Department is slated to contribute $10.2 million of Florida Forever funds, Davis has discounted the property by $7 million, the U.S. Department of Defense will contribute $1.75 million as part of the 2013 REPI Challenge and Eglin Air Force Base will contribute $550,000. The purchase requires approval by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, which is tentatively scheduled for the Florida Cabinet meeting on Aug. 20.
Governor Scott said, “Florida is the country’s most military
friendly state, and today’s announcement is great news for the environment and
the U.S. military stationed in Florida. We must remain committed to giving our
military the tools necessary to keep our country safe, while protecting
Florida’s unique environment.”
"Being able to conserve nearly 21,000 acres around Eglin Air Force Base
continues the state's partnership with the U.S. military to buffer
military installations and brings more critical habitat into state
ownership to benefit the environment," said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. "This is a massive amount of land that will be conserved based on a great partnership between the Department, the Department of Defense, M.C. Davis and The Trust for Public Land."
The Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program funds cost-sharing partnerships for the military with state and local governments and private conservation organizations to address the need for compatible land use and conserved natural landscapes in support of military readiness. Projects require at least a 1:1 funding match.
If approved by the Florida Cabinet and once closed, the Seven Runs Creek Florida Forever Project will be complete. In 2010, the North Nokuse Plantation project, which encompasses 11,961 acres, and the Seven Runs Creek project -- 14,649 acres -- were combined. The project was added to the Florida Forever priority list because of its groundwater recharge benefits and ability to protect 14 rare species, including the Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, Florida pine snake, Pine Barrens treefrog and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. It also provides additional buffer for Eglin Air Force Base, one of the country's largest Air Force bases.
"The proposed Nokuse Plantation project is a great
benefit to Eglin Air Force Base and the state of Florida. This easement is not possible without the strong financial and staff support of Eglin's
partners, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Trust for
Public Land," said Marion Cook, Eglin Air Force Base Community Planner. "Limiting future incompatible development under the
eastern approach into the Eglin Range will support numerous test and training
missions."
"We're looking forward to working with Florida and the
Air Force to make this wonderful project happen," said Greg Chelius, senior project manager for The Trust for Public Land. "This will benefit
Eglin Air Force Base and all the service members there, plus restore to a natural forest
one of the largest landscapes in the Florida Panhandle which helps protect the
Gulf of Mexico. The leadership of the state of Florida has stepped
forward in a big way, which will benefit the residents of the Sunshine State for
decades to come."
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