Chapter 7 of the BMP Manual (coming soon) deals with agricultural and working landscapes and their relationship to wildlife habitat and conservation in Florida. Here are a few introductory highlights from the chapter.

Agricultural areas and working landscapes in Florida have a unique relationship to the practice of conserving wildlife habitat. The culture, heritage, way of life and means of subsistence characteristic to Florida are as essential to its framework and cultural magnetism as its diverse array of flora, fauna and natural resources. Florida agriculture and the people who maintain and depend upon its ranches, prairies and forest lands remain an inextricable part of a rich cultural heritage and stewards of its natural resources.

A great deal of land use alterations and urban sprawl, such as conversion of formerly agricultural lands to residential and urban areas has been characteristic of the Florida agricultural landscape in recent years. Such practices have resulted in farming intensification and some detrimental practices employed to compensate for declining economic success in the wake of the spreading trend in development. Such conditions have led to an alarming degree of habitat degradation, fragmentation and even loss of wildlife habitat in many rural areas of the state, having severe effects on their populations. It is important to understand however, that it is indeed realistic and practical for agriculture and wildlife to exist together in mutual benefit.

As these two parts of the fabric of Florida's rural landscape require protection and conservation, so they stand positioned to effectively assist one another in maintaining habitat and helping farms to thrive. A number of tools are available for urban and regional planners, farmers and private landowners to promote natural habitats for wildlife in conjunction with continued economic viability for farming. Conservation-centered planning and management by rural and agricultural landowners in Florida can have a significant positive impact on a number of the state's natural habitat resources including rangelands, forests, soils, wetlands and water habitats.

Interesting Websites: 

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences sponsors a helpful informational website as part of their involvement with the Agriculture Extension Service.  The site contains a wealth of information regarding measures that farmers and landowners can take to implement and improve wildlife conservation strategies.

More info online: http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/

The University of Florida provides even more useful information regarding land management strategies at the wildlife and interface.

More info online:  http://wildlifeandag.wec.ufl.edu/

The Florida division of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides useful information on conservation services: cost-share and conservation easement opportunities for rural and agricultural landowners.

More info online: http://www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) has accomplished a great deal through encouraging participation in the Landowner Incentives Program (LIP).

More info online: http://myfwc.com/LIP/

Martin County was recently featured as an exemplary local government in their initiatives toward parks and conservation lands in rural and agricultural areas, helpful to wildlife and appreciators alike.

More info online: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/open-space-47030101