FLORIDA ARBOR DAY: JANUARY 16, 2026
Arbor Day is a national reminder of the ecological, economic, and social value of trees. In Florida, Arbor Day is celebrated on the third Friday in January.
To celebrate Florida Arbor Day this year, The UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and the City of Gainesville have partnered to build an urban forestry adventure that invites the community to get outside, learn about trees, and some of the benefits they provide in our city. This self-guided, self-paced activity takes place across three of Gainesville’s public parks and on the University of Florida campus. Learn more about 2026 Tree Quest here.
Check your local listings for events taking place this weekend in your area.
RECORDING OF JANUARY 15 WEBINAR ABOUT THE LANDYIELD FOREST CARBON PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING
Thanks to those joining us yesterday for our Florida Land Steward Webinar about the LandYield forest carbon program. Max Grodnick with the LandYield company discussed forest carbon projects are and how they work, LandYield’s Harvest Deferral Program, and the benefits of participating. The recording of this webinar is now available for viewing. Watch the recording of the January 15 LandYield Forest Carbon Program webinar here.
RURAL AND FAMILY LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD OPEN
Apply by January 23, 2026
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) is an agricultural land preservation program designed to protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural land conservation easements. The program is designed to protect agricultural lands (including forests) by creating easement agreements that work together with agricultural production to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of natural resources without interfering with agricultural operations in such a way that could put the continued economic viability of these operations at risk.
Last week to apply. Interested landowners can submit their application by 5:00 pm EST on January 23, 2026. For more information and to apply for the program, visit the RFLPP website here.
GOT YOUR 2026 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDAR?
The Florida Land Steward wall 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 with your mailing address to Suzette Cook at suzettecook@ufl.edu. These are first-come, first-serve to interested landowners, while supplies last.
We need your feedback to keep this tradition going! Did you enjoy and use the 2025 Florida Land Steward wall calendar? To continue this annual tradition, we need to know if and how the Florida Land Steward Calendar is being used. Please share your feedback on the 2025 edition here. Won’t take but a couple minutes!
Want to contribute to future editions of the Florida Land Steward calendar? 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/. Click the “Donate” button on the top right. In the field where you can write a note, please indicate “Private Lands Fund”. Thank you!
ENROLL IN THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY
Need a good self-paced primer on forestry and forest stewardship? Don’t have time to attend workshops and other events? The UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science’s online Forest Landowner Academy is for you. The direct link to enroll is 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; or Michael Andreu, mandreu@ufl.edu.
AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION FIELDS & FORESTS PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN FLORIDA
Fields & Forests works with landowners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides landowners with guaranteed annual income, professional forestry support, full coverage of site preparation and planting costs, and the profits from timber harvests. Payment contracts include a payment of $30 per acre per year, and are 30 years duration. See the American Forest Foundation’s Fields & Forests Program web site for details. Questions about Fields & Forests can be directed to (229) 231-3818 or fieldsandforests@forestfoundation.org.
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.
MORE NEWS, 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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