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Our Mission
The mission of the Conservation Trust for Florida
is to protect the rural landscapes of Florida. We focus on farms, ranches,
working forests, and natural areas that provide landscape connections.
The Conservation Trust for Florida protects
rural lands vital to the state's character and economy through
conservation easements and land purchases, and by helping rural
landowners retain their traditional and productive land-use
activities.
The Conservation Trust for Florida was created as a
nonprofit 501(c)3 land trust to protect these dwindling
landscapes. Our long-term goal is to ensure that rural
lifestyles will continue, that open lands are protected
for future generations, and that development is effectively directed
away from culturally, aesthetically, historically, and ecologically
valuable rural areas.
CTF in the News: Lakeland Ledger
Farm, Land Bills Help Conservation, July 2008. Farmers and ranchers in Florida received good news as two major rural land-conservation programs, the Farm Bill, and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (a state program), were approved as part of legislation. These programs can help family farmers hold onto their land by providing them with cash payments or tax incentives.
Ocala to Osceloa Greenway Update
CTF and its partners recently released thier new brochure on the O2O Greenways project. The Ocala National Forest to Osceola National Forest Ecological Greenway, or O2O, is a project that aims to conserve land between these two forests. It will create a wildlife corridor connecting large conservation lands in Florida and southeast Georgia. Many species are sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation, which occurs daily as land is converted to development and as roads are built.
New Federal Law Improves Tax Break for Conservation Agreements to Save Farms and Other Rural Lands
Congress recently passed a law to enhance the tax benefits
of protecting your land by donating a voluntary conservation agreement.
If you own land with important natural, historic, or agricultural resources,
donating a voluntary conservation agreement can be one of the smartest ways to
conserve the land you love and protect America's natural heritage, while
maintaining your private property rights and possibly realizing significant
federal tax benefits. Click HERE to learn more about the tax benefits of conservation easements.
New Video on Conservation Easements
An episode of the University of Florida’s Living Green project
features farmers who have partnered with CTF
and the Red Hills Conservation Program to establish conservation easements.
Dr. Mark Hostetler visits several farmers who are establishing conservation
easements on their property to discuss how conservation easements work and
how a farmer/landowner can establish them on his or her property.
Watch the video or buy the DVD on Living Green's website.
Help Raise Funds for CTF
and Go on a Mini-Vacation
Art Benefits CTF
Artist Susan Trammell will generously donate $250 of the proceeds from
the sale of the framed original water color titled
"Flame Azalea - Rhododendron austrinum" to CTF. Flame Azalea
is on display at Harvest Thyme Cafe on Main Street in Gainesville (12" x 16",
price $500).
Susan will donate all of the proceeds of the framed photograph giclee
titled "Chain Fern - Woodwardia virginica" to CTF
(10.5" x 13.5", price $50). Chain Fern is on display at the
Pearl Country Store in Micanopy.
Artist Elsa Kula will donate all of the proceeds of the pastel
titled "Memories" to CTF. Retail value is $300. Contact CTF for more information.
Donation of Tree Seedlings Benefits CTF
Forester and CTF Treasurer Michael Campbell has donated a
"flat" of 52 tree seedlings for well-drained soils valued at $70
and includes: 10 sand live oaks; 10 myrtle oaks; 10 turkey oaks;
5 Chapman's oaks; 5 sand post oaks; 7 wire grass seedlings; and
5 lopsided Indian grass seedlings. Contact CTF for more information.
iGive.com
Shop for gifts and contribute to CTF too!

Allied Organizations
CTF is a sponsor member of The Land Trust Alliance

and encourages your support of The American Farmland Trust

Lake Palestine, masthead photo, courtesy of Erik Lewis.
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