North Florida Land Trust celebrated another year of conservation successes and honored environmental heroes at its Annual Meeting and Celebration. The sold-out event, held at The Yards in Ponte Vedra, brought community members, supporters and environmental advocates to hear about NFLT’s accomplishments in 2024, the nonprofit land conservation organization’s 25th year of service. With record-breaking attendance, the nonprofit raised nearly $130,000 to support its mission.
Board Chair Lisa Barton reviewed the list of accomplishments for 2024, which included conserving nearly 6,000 acres of land worth $21.3 million. The nonprofit raised $1.62 million to support its mission, increased the number of NFLT members, expanded its staff to 18, and was named to the Jacksonville Business Journal’s list of Best Places to Work. NFLT also bolstered its stewardship department by adding several tools to help manage the land, including a specialized tractor, a 16-foot boat, and a fire truck they named Lola-D after Delores Barr Weaver, who provided funding for the purchase of the equipment through the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund.
Guests were treated to the keynote speech from Dr. Johnnetta Cole. Cole spoke about her family, including her great-grandfather, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida’s first black millionaire and the founder of historic American Beach. She also talked about her older sister, MaVynee Betsch, known as “The Beach Lady.” Betsch was an environmental advocate who spent her inheritance on environmental causes. She stood firmly against developers in American Beach, where she was instrumental in saving and protecting the tallest dune, NaNa Dune, which was added to the National Park Service properties. She said she and her sister were taught that land is not just property, but a place of stories and dreams.
“When I reflect on the work that organizations like North Florida Land Trust do, I am clear that I have the responsibility to do the work like the Beach Lady did and that NFLT does,” said Cole. “God ain’t making no more land. Our responsibility is to guard the land that God has already made. The urgency of now is undeniable. Once the land is lost, it is gone. There is no such thing as a second chance. There is work to be done. Each of us has a responsibility to do the work to make sure our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will have the land and the environment that we are blessed to enjoy.”
The Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for NFLT to recognize those who have contributed to making their mission possible. President and CEO Allison DeFoor presented former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner with the Conservation Legacy Award. DeFoor said he met with Renner during his tenure and asked him to help fund conservation efforts in the state. Renner allocated $400 million in the budget and then defended it to ensure natural spaces in Florida are preserved.
“When I was Speaker of the House, we were able to increase funding for Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, and we made sure the allocated funding went into the environment,” said Renner. “The need we have is so substantial. We must preserve our state. Land conservation is not always a sexy platform for politicians who are constantly changing. I suggest everyone reach out to your elected officials to make sure the environment remains a priority.”
DeFoor also announced the NFLT Partners of the Year, Florida State Senator Jennifer Bradley and Florida House Representative Sam Garrison. Neither was able to attend the event. DeFoor told the crowd about how instrumental the two were in helping to pass a conservation referendum in Clay County, which passed with 75 percent of the vote.
“We could never have gotten there without the help of Senator Bradley and Representative Garrison. We are very grateful for their help in moving these conservation efforts forward,” said DeFoor.
DeFoor presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Keith and Suzanne Langenberg for their environmental stewardship work at Bogey Creek Preserve. DeFoor called them the watchdogs, representatives and the boots on the ground for the nonprofit’s public preserve in Jacksonville. Finally, DeFoor named Jack Thornton as the recipient of the Charlie Commander Land Conservation Award, which is named in honor of Charlie Commander, a longtime NFLT supporter and conservationist. Thornton and his family donated 400 acres on Amelia Island to NFLT. The land, now known as the Thornton Family Preserve, is located near Egan’s Creek and Fort Clinch State Park. Thornton is the second recipient of the award, which recognizes visionary landowners dedicated to protecting and preserving the North Florida landscape.
The event concluded with a call for everyone to join NFLT in its mission through membership, donations, estate planning, and the protection of land. For more information on how to get involved, visit nflt.org.
NFLT extends gratitude to all its sponsors. This year’s Black Bear Sponsors were Dream Finders Homes, First Horizon Bank, the Lisa Barton Team Ponte Vedra Beach, and Wetland Preserve Conservation Compatible Forestry. The Commander Family, Cogent Bank, Lory Doolittle, Pam and Joe Hart, Preston and Joan Haskell, and Rick and Faith Hoffman were Bobcat Sponsors.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
