gopher tortoise recipient sites · gopher tortoise management plan – minimize loss – increase...
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Gopher Tortoise Recipient Sites
Allen Broussard Conservancy
Rachel King – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionSEFSEWG – April 26, 2017
Why relocate gopher tortoises to recipient sites?
State-threatened species Gopher Tortoise Management Plan
– Minimize loss– Increase and improve habitat– Enhance and restore populations– Maintain function as keystone species
~17,000 acres of tortoise habitat Capacity for ~39,000 tortoises
Short-Term Protected Sites
Recipient Site Types
Long-term protected Short-term or unprotected Public Conservation Lands Research
Recipient sites Long-term provides the highest conservation value
for the gopher tortoise and its habitat – Designed to provide financial incentives and advantages
to landowners who establish long-term protected sites
Keep tortoises local Reduce costs for local governments (PCL)
Indrio Savannahs
Long-term Recipient Sites
Desirable criteria– >200 acres– > 50% herbaceous cover– <40% canopy cover– DWT ≥ 130 cm– Enhanced conservation
value– Final density is up to four
tortoises per acre
Acceptable criteria >40 acres > 30% herbaceous cover <60% canopy cover DWT ≥ 45 cm Final density is up to two
tortoises per acre
Short-term or Unprotected Recipient Sites
Criteria >25 acres >30% herbaceous cover <60% canopy cover DWT ≥ 45 cm Final stocking rate is up to two
tortoises per acre
Public Conservation Lands
Maintain and restore tortoise populations Can also be long-term or short-term protected Can be used for projects that are contiguous
to site or off-site projects Final stocking rate is up to two tortoises per
acre MOU may be used in place of conservation
easement
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Requirements for Applications Boundary Map Soils Map Land Cover Map Baseline burrow survey Conservation Easement (or MOU for certain
lands) Title Search Management Plan Financial Assurance
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Financial Obligations for Recipient Sites
Application contribution Installation of temporary enclosures (silt fencing)
or permanent fencing Habitat management Population and Habitat
Monitoring
Financial Obligations for Recipient Sites
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Financial Obligations for Recipient Sites
Questions?
Adams Ranch Phase 1
Rick McCann: Tallahassee, 850-921-1031Rachel King: South Region, 561-882-5714