LANDOWNERS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM EASEMENTS
Apply by April 5, 2024
Landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values and practices have an opportunity to apply for Entity Held Conservation Easement opportunities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and land trusts in Florida. Landowners who applied for the recent Florida Department of Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) cycle are encouraged to apply for potential match opportunities. Those who are within and/or touching the boundaries of these regional initiatives are eligible. See the news releases linked below for details, maps, and contacts.
- Landowners in several north central Florida counties can apply for the “Surface to Springs” and “Forest to Gulf” programs in partnership with Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Landowners in Leon, Wakulla, Madison, and Taylor Counties can apply for the “Red Hills to the Coast” program in partnership with Tall Timbers Research, Inc.
WEIGH IN ON CARBON MARKETS
A new survey “Exploring the Potential Effects of an Expanding Forest Carbon Market in the United States” seeks input on strengths, weaknesses, and anticipated outcomes from forest carbon markets, as well as insight into where additional information is needed to support informed decision making. The survey is open to anyone with insight and opinions into the effects of forest carbon markets on working forests and the communities that rely on them in the United States. Results from the survey will be analyzed anonymously and used with an aim of determining what is working well for forests and people, and what changes are needed to ensure all forest products, services, and values can continue to be available for current and future generations. The survey will take about 12 minutes to complete. Participate in the survey here.
TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS: 2023 TAX YEAR
Many forest management activities you conduct can have tax implications. Generally, all income received is taxable unless excluded by tax law, and nothing is deductible unless a provision allows it. Understanding the forest-related provisions and integrating tax planning into your forest management can help lower your tax. The annual tax tips publication, produced by the U.S. Forest Service and academic partners from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is intended to be an informational and educational resource for you and your tax advisor, but is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor concerning your particular tax situation. The information in the guide is current as of December 20, 2023.
See the 2023 Timber Tax Tips story board here
Access the 2023 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners here.
CONGRATULATIONS RONNIE STEPHENSON: 2024 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD OF THE YEAR!
Ronnie Stephenson’s passion for wildlife and his tenacity for hands-on habitat management goes above and beyond what would be expected of one person. In addition to all of his hard work managing his two Jackson County farms, he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for land stewardship with fellow landowners and other wildlife enthusiasts. Ronnie’s tireless contributions to wildlife and habitat management have been an example of dedication and hard work that will expand and inspire the next generation of land stewards. Read more about Ronnie’s efforts in his Florida Land Steward of the Year blog post. Join us for a tour at Ronnie’s property on May 2.
2024 SPRING SYMPOSIUM: “FROM THE GROUND UP”, APRIL 16-17, 2024 AT UF STERN LEARNING CENTER AT AUSTIN CARY FOREST
Provided by the Florida Division Society of American Foresters (SAF) and the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). Join us to explore reforestation and restoration techniques for various land management objectives. From the ground up, we’ll dig into site preparation, prescribed fire, species and genetics, and bring it all together in case studies featuring new technologies and various land management objectives. Foresters, 7.5 Cat. 1 SAF Continuing Forestry Education Credits are approved. 2024 Spring Symposium details and registration here.
GROUP ENROLLMENT OPTION NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY
Do you have a group of employees or clients that you’d like to enroll in the online Forest Landowner Academy? We now have a bulk registration option where you can purchase multiple “seats” in the course and assign those to people who want to take the course. For more details on how this works see these Canvas instructions on reserving multiple enrollments and how to invite students to a bulk-purchased course.
Forest landowners, and others in need of forest management information, are encouraged to enroll in this self-paced, online, 7-module course to connect with forest management experts at the University of Florida and receive quality core educational content on forestry and multiple-use stewardship concepts.
Single and bulk enrollment options are both available at the Forest Landowner Academy enrollment page:
https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/for-fla
Questions about the course can be directed to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.
HURRICANE IDALIA SILIVICULTURE RECOVERY PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
Apply by June 30, 2024
The Hurricane Idalia Silviculture Recovery Program is designed to ensure the long-term viability of Florida’s forest lands and restore the ecological and economic value of timberland damaged by Hurricane Idalia. The program offers landowners cost-share funding specifically for site preparation and tree replanting on classified agricultural lands. It is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service and funded by the state of Florida.
To be eligible for the program, practice sites must have been forested on August 30, 2023, and experienced significant timber damage that impacted the future viability of the stand as a direct result of Hurricane Idalia. Qualified applicants are limited to timber landowners in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee and Taylor counties, whose timber experienced significant damage from Hurricane Idalia.
The program is currently open for applications at the online portal or by mail. Please visit https://IdaliaTimberRecovery.fdacs.gov to apply. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2024.
2024 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE
An annual tradition, the Florida Land Steward calendar features beautiful photography, our Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, habitat management tips, partnership opportunities, resource contacts, and more. Request your calendar by sending an email to cdemers@ufl.edu with your mailing address. These are first come, first serve to interested landowners, while supplies last.
Want to contribute to future editions? If you would like to contribute to the production of future editions of the Florida Land Steward Calendar you can donate at https://wildlifeflorida.org/wildlife/ In the “Comments” field please indicate “Private Lands Fund”. Thank you!
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 the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter; updates on cost-share and other assistance programs, opportunities, and resources; and other stewardship related news and information.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
See our Events Calendar and News page for upcoming events and ongoing programs, initiatives, and opportunities.
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 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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