Management Plans and Planning
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2008 Florida Statutes
Florida Administrative Code
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The Division of Forestry oversees the management of Florida's one million acres of state forests. The Land Acquisition section assists the field staff in assimilating land management plans for all lands purchased under the state's acquisition programs (e.g. Conservation and Recreational Lands, Preservation 2000, Florida Forever). The purpose of these plans is to incorporate, evaluate, and prioritize all relevant information about the site into a cohesive management strategy, allowing for appropriate access to the managed areas while protecting the long-term health of the ecosystems and their resources.
These 10-year resource management plans are not annual work plans or detailed operational plans, but provide general guidance for the management of each state forest by outlining the major concepts that will guide management activities on those forests. Each management plan is evaluated periodically and revised as necessary to allow for strategic improvements. They are provided in accordance with Sections 253.034, 259.032, and 373, Florida Statutes, and are prepared utilizing guidelines outlined in Section 18-2.021 of the Florida Administrative Code.
The state's lands and natural resources are managed using a stewardship ethic that assures these resources will be available for the benefit and enjoyment of all people of the state, both present and future. All management strategies, where feasible and consistent with the goals of protection and conservation of natural resources, shall:
- Integrate human use through a multiple-use concept, not emphasizing any particular use over the others
- Restore, maintain, and protect in perpetuity all native ecosystems, insuring the long-term viability of populations and species considered rare, endangered, threatened, or of special concern
- Protect known archeological and historical resources
- Practice sustainable forest management utilizing sound silvicultural techniques
Goals, objectives, and strategies are established in the management plan to address these issues. These components are all key elements in an effective management program for achieving the mission of each state forest.
Public Hearings
There are no draft Management Plans for public review and comment at this time.
Once a draft management plan is developed, it is presented to the public at a formal public meeting and on the website. The objectives of this formal public meeting are to receive public input regarding issues and opportunities that should be addressed in the management plan. With this input, the plan is further amended and finalized to be sent to the Governor and Cabinet for adoption.
Pursuant to Chapter 286.0105, Florida Statutes, should you decide to appeal any decision made at the hearing and meeting referred to above, you may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Such record shall include the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Contact Us
Cori Hermle, Land Planning Specialist
Florida Division of Forestry
Land Acquisitions
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650
Telephone: 850/ 414-9908
Email: hermlec@doacs.state.fl.us
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