North Florida Land Trust thanks the voters of Nassau County for overwhelming voting yes on the Board of Commissioners Referendum, which provides up to $30 million in general obligation bonds to help fund land conservation. The referendum was passed with nearly 68 percent of voters approving the use of the funds to acquire lands that protect water quality, wildlife habitats, and rivers throughout the county.
NFLT worked alongside critical supporters, including members from the NFLT Amelia Forever Committee, the Amelia Tree Conservancy, and the Trust for Public Land, to help pass the referendum. It will help preserve drinking water, fortify natural areas that help prevent flooding, provide access to pristine waterfronts and beaches, and provide recreational trails for walking and biking.
“This is a big win for Nassau County and conservation. I would like to thank the citizens for passing this important referendum and those we worked alongside to get this done,” said Allison DeFoor, interim president of NFLT. “It is now or never for land conservation in Nassau County. These funds will help to ensure we don’t lose important wetlands and floodplains that provide significant eco-benefits to the area.”
The bonds will help to fund the county’s Conservation Land Acquisition and Management program, also known as CLAM. NFLT partnered with Nassau County to help develop CLAM’s conservation plan to identify, rank, and assess conservation lands for acquisition and management. The plan was created with input from conservation organizations and the public who nominated properties for conservation. More details on the plan can be found at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/1283/Conservation-Land-Acquisition-Management.
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.
