| ** Happy Birthday to NFLT! ** |
| It’s here ~ The final week of our count down! NFLT was founded on December 27, 1999, so that means today is our official 25th birthday and this is the last post in our 25 Weeks of Memories for 25 Years of Conservation series. Twenty-five years is a monumental milestone—that’s more than two decades of protecting and preserving the lands that define the natural beauty of North Florida. As we reflect on our journey, it’s clear that 2024 was a remarkable year for NFLT, cementing our legacy as stewards of North Florida’s vital ecosystems. Seems fitting for such a big birthday year, don’t you think?
Read on for some of the reasons we are celebrating our 25th year as one of our most favorite memories.
Record-Breaking Land Protection In 2024, we achieved unprecedented success in our conservation efforts, protecting a total of 4,935 acres. This included acquisitions, conservation easements, and facilitation projects. Of those, 1,654 acres were added to NFLT’s portfolio of properties—an enduring gift to future generations.
The value of the land protected surpasses our previous 2018 record by over $1 million at $18,616,921. This accomplishment speaks to our growing impact and the deep commitment of our supporters and partners.
A Win for Conservation in Clay County A highlight of the year came in November when the Clay County Land Conservation Referendum passed, ensuring vital funding for the protection of water quality, wildlife habitats, forests, and farms. This community-driven victory reflects the region’s shared dedication to safeguarding its natural heritage.
Comprehensive Land Management NFLT’s stewardship team made incredible strides in 2024, with fourteen land management plans approved. These plans set the stage for sustainable stewardship of our preserves, including the initial plan for the Bull Family Preserve and an updated plan for Bogey Creek Preserve, NFLT’s first publicly accessible park. Each plan ensures the long-term health of the landscapes, balancing ecological restoration with available resources.
Progress on New Initiatives 🐢 We now have three sites (Smith Lake Preserve, Little Rain Lake Preserve, and Putnam Lakes Preserve) in progress to support gopher tortoise relocation efforts. Gopher tortoises are a keystone species, and their burrows support upwards of 350 other species, many of them endangered. 🌲 On eight of our preserves—totaling 3,868 acres—we advanced our climate resilience goals by promoting carbon sequestration. 🔥 Prescribed burns were conducted on 405 acres across Little Rain Lake Preserve, Smith Lake Preserve, and Putnam Lakes Preserve. These burns promote healthier ecosystems and reduce wildfire risks.
Investing in Our Future Our ability to protect and manage North Florida’s lands has been bolstered by new tools and equipment, including the 2024 Wildland Type 6 Brush Truck (affectionately known as “Lola D”), a 16’ Tidewater boat, and a Caterpillar 299D3XE track loader with a mulching head unit. These additions enhance our capacity to care for the lands under our stewardship.
Unparalleled Community Support On Giving Tuesday, our community showed up in a big way, raising a NFLT record-breaking $72,998. This generosity underscores the passion and dedication of our supporters, who make our work possible. For the third consecutive year, 100% of our board and staff contributed financially to our mission—a testament to the deep personal commitment of the people behind NFLT.
Growing Our Team This year, we added six new staff positions (and welcomed six new members to the NFLT family) ~ 💚 Land Stewardship Specialist (Chris Bebout) 💚 Land Stewardship Liaison (Kala Neighbor) 💚 Development Officer (Brenda Lynch) 💚 Board Executive Assistant (Willow Logue) 💚 Conservation Acquisitions Coordinator & In-House Counsel (Joel Benn) 💚 Operations and Grants Manager (Michelle Smith) With these talented individuals on board, our organization is more capable than ever of meeting the challenges of conservation in North Florida.
A Best Place to Work In the late summer of 2024, the Jacksonville Business Journal recognized NFLT as a Best Place to Work, highlighting our dedication not just to the lands we protect but also to the people who make it all possible. This honor reflects our culture of collaboration, respect, and shared purpose.
Looking Ahead As we close the chapter on 2024 and our 25th anniversary year, we look to the future with hope and determination. Our achievements this year are a reflection of what’s possible when communities come together to protect the places that matter most. Thank you from the bottom of our heart for being part of this journey. Together, let’s continue to make a difference—for the people, wildlife, and landscapes of North Florida, now and for the generations yet to come. |
