Protecting the Investment

The FNPS Land Management Partners Committee works with the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Division of State Lands on state-mandated land management reviews. These reviews are conducted on lands that were purchased with public conservation funds, such as state parks and preserves, that are overseen by the State’s Acquisition and Restoration Council. 

According to Florida law, each property greater than 1,000 acres is required to have an on-the-ground review every 5 years, and a review and update of its management plan every 10 years. The purpose of the reviews is to ensure that each property is being managed in accordance with the purpose for which it was acquired. The law requires that one of the members of the review team be a representative from a conservation organization, and FNPS strives to participate in as many of these reviews as possible.

FNPS provides ecological expertise in order to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities on public lands.

The FNPS coordinates these reviews, soliciting knowledgeable volunteers from among the FNPS membership to participate in reviews of properties in their county or region. Volunteers may choose to participate in on-the-ground management reviews, or perform a document review of proposed management plan updates.

During an on-the-ground management review, an FNPS volunteer would be responsible for reviewing the management plan, participating in an on-site review with other team members, scoring the management efforts, and attending a follow-up meeting of team members to review scores.

Volunteers who choose to perform management plan reviews will read proposed updates to land management plans to make sure that native plants and native plant communities will receive adequate protection, and provide then feedback to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

To participate in the FNPS Land Management Partners program, please contact Lilly Anderson-Messec at torreyakeepers@fnps.org to learn more about requirements and upcoming opportunities.