NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK – WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING

This week is National Invasive Species Week. During this week on our Florida Land Steward Facebook page we have shared some great posts from UF/IFAS Sea Grant Agent, Rick O’Connor, about invasive species issues. Those can also be viewed on the UF/IFAS Panhandle Outdoors page.  His last post is probably the most important – What Can You (and I) do?? This issue seems overwhelming, and it is, but we can all play an important role in confronting invasive species at our home, on our forest and farm lands, and in our community.

The first step is to learn to which plants and/or animals in your landscape are invasive. There are a lot of resources to tap. A good place to start is the UF/IFAS Invasive Species Programs site. From here you can find many helpful resources on all taxa of invasive species. Survey your yard or property and see what you might have.

The next step  is to report the infestation if you have one.  All invasive species are under-reported. Use EDDMapS to report invasive species and also to see the extent of infestations in your area. There could be some infestations nearby that you didn’t know about and it would be a good to have those on your radar and make sure they don’t spread to your property.  The EDDMapS app for your mobile device is easy to use and free to download.  See  www.EDDMapS.org to get started.  Keep a very careful watch out especially for cogongrass! (pictured in the banner photo at the top of this blog)

The next step, the hardest of course, is removing or managing the infestation so it doesn’t spread further.  Technology for this is always advancing.  Contact your UF/IFAS county extension office and see the UF/IFAS Invasive Species Programs site for the latest information on controlling invasive species.

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR

Tax season is upon us. To help you understand the forestry specific tax provisions and how the general tax rules apply to your forestry activities, here are the Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2021 Tax Year.

FOREST CARBON BULLETIN: WHO’S WHO IN THE  FOREST CARBON MARKET, PART 2

Our Forest Carbon Bulletin service is provided to help private landowners and our forestry and natural resource partners navigate the emerging world of forest carbon initiatives, programs, and opportunities. Check out the latest installment of the Bulletin (excerpted from the latest issue of the quarterly Florida Land Steward Newsletter) for more details on forest carbon project developers, registries, standards, and methodologies: Who’s who in the Forest Carbon Market, Part 2

HELP THE FOREST LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION (FLA) WITH FEEDBACK ABOUT CARBON PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY FOREST OWNERS

To provide family forest owners with insights into the ever-evolving frontier of forest carbon markets and how to determine if they are right for you, FLA is developing a Carbon Webinar series. To gain insights into your base knowledge and interest in forest carbon markets, FLA has partnered with Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences to conduct a survey to gain insights and interest of family forest owners. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participate in the survey at this link: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QdV2dv1hEKsBUO

CONGRATULATIONS BILL BLACK AND DENISE MATTHEWS, 2022 FLORIDA LAND STEWARDS OF THE YEAR!

We congratulate Bill Black and Denise Matthews for the outstanding stewardship of their Sparkleberry Farm property in Alachua County. As a result of their continuous planning and hard work the property is home to abundant wildlife, longleaf pine, naturally regenerated slash and loblolly pine stands, hardwood swamps, and a rich groundcover of unique and rare plants. Bill and Denise look forward to continuing their stewardship journey at Sparkleberry Farm and beyond by encouraging research and education, and taking opportunities to promote land stewardship to fellow landowners and the public. Read more about our 2022 Florida Land Stewards of the Year here.

PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM ATTACK-ONE FIRE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TALL TIMBERS RESEARCH STATION, AND ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST

These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.

Attack-One Fire Management Services is grant-funded to assist landowners with current NRCS contracts with prescribed fire planning and implementation throughout Florida and Georgia. We can also assist landowners who have former NRCS contracts with prescribed fire consultation, planning and implementation with active Gopher Tortoise habitat present. For more information email Kevin Carter, kevin@attack-one.com or call (850) 926-6534

Tall Timbers Research Station is funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation, planning, and implementation to private landowners in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Lake City and in west Georgia as far north as the Chattahoochee Fall Line (Columbus, GA). Contact Jeremiah Cates, jcates@talltimbers.org, (850) 381-8707. Also see their web page for more details: Private Lands Prescribed Fire Project – Tall Timbers

Alachua Conservation Trust has a prescribed fire specialist available to assist private landowners with burn planning and implementation in Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Levy, Bradford, Clay, Union, and portions of Columbia, Suwannee, Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, and Citrus Counties. Contact Barry Coulliette at barry@alachuaconservationtrust.org , 904-838-8591. Barry is also the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association.

GET FLORIDA LAND STEWARD EMAIL UPDATES

Don’t miss out on news and events! Sign up for the regular email updates! Send an email to Chris at cdemers@ufl.edu to be added to the email listserv. Florida Land Steward email updates are sent once a week or every other week and include the latest calendar of workshops, tours and other events; a link to the current issue of this quarterly newsletter; updates on cost-share and other assistance programs, opportunities, and resources; and other stewardship related news and information.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND WEBINARS

See our Events Calendar and News page for upcoming events, webinars, webinar and event materials.

ACCESS THE QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER ONLINE

Access the current and back issues of the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter here.

HAVE AN EVENT OR RELATED NEWS TO SHARE?

Drop a line with the details and link(s) to Chris Demers at cdemers@ufl.edu.

CONSIDER A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF THE UF/IFAS FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PROGRAM

The mission of the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program is to help and encourage private landowners to actively manage their land resources for long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits. This program is largely supported by partners and donors. If this program has made a difference in your land stewardship efforts please consider a gift. Support the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program here. Thanks!

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