What We Do
The North Florida Land Trust conserves scenic, natural, agricultural and open land for the future of Northeast Florida in seven counties by:
- Developing long term land protection strategies
- Promoting private and public funding for land conservation
- Acquiring land and conservation easements
- Stewardship including the restoration of conservation properties
- Promoting a sense of place and a land ethic through activities, education and outreach.
Our protected lands are located throughout northeast Florida. From historic meadows and tidal wetlands to leafy woodlands and inland wetlands, we are stewards of all North Florida's representative habitats. Some of these properties are small or need prior permission from our Executive Director to access them. We rely on visitors and neighbors to be our eyes and ears on Land Trust properties as well as to report bird and wildlife sightings. We want you to care for our properties as much as we do.
Thousands of acres of land and natural habitat in North Florida are being lost every year to development. Only through conservation efforts at every level will we have success in retaining this area's natural beauty: clean water and air; a healthy ecosystem; and our quality of life.
NFLT relies on support from community members with a strong land conservation ethic to provide financial support that makes our work possible. NFLT is a regional land trust that spans seven counties: Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
Our Mission
The Mission of the North Florida Land Trust is to preserve and protect open space in Northeast Florida. Preservation of open space benefits our community by adding to quality of life values for the residents of our community, preserving precious natural habitats and the rural character of Northeast Florida for future generations.
History
Founded in 1999, The North Florida Land Trust has over eleven years experience conserving and protecting lands in North Florida. In all, 130 acres are owned by the North Florida land Trust and over 500 acres are protected by conservation easements. North Florida Land Trust has protected more than 1,100 acres of beautiful, productive and environmentally significant land in and around Northeast Florida.
The North Florida Land Trust is a local, non-governmental, non-profit organization funded largely by membership contributions. The Land Trust works closely with private landowners and other public agencies at all levels of government, nonprofit partners, and foundations. The North Florida Land Trust is a member of the Florida Alliance of Land Trusts and subscribes to the Standards and Practices of the national Land Trust Alliance.
Best Standards and Practices
Through the adoption of and adherence to the Land Trust Alliance's Best Standards and Practices, our organization has reached a high level of professionalism. This is essential for the responsible operation of a Land Trust and ensures that a land trust operates legally, ethically and in the public interest. It also establishes a sound program of land transactions and stewardship.
Governance
The North Florida Land Trust is governed by a highly involved Board of Directors and is enthusiastically supported by over 500 members. The day-to day operations of the Land Trust are overseen by Bonnie Barnes, our Executive Director.
| Office Location: 10036 Sawgrass Drive West, Suite 10 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 51181 Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-1181 904-285-7020 info@northfloridalandtrust.org www.northfloridalandtrust.org |
Annual Reports and Filings
| 2009 Annual Report | 2008 Annual Report | |
| 2007 Annual Report | 2006 Annual Report | 2007 990 IRS filing |
Member: Land Trust Alliance and Florida Association of Land Trusts The North Florida Land Trust is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and all dues and contributions are tax deductible. |
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Public Notice of Accreditation filing
The national land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. We are pleased to announce that North Florida Land Trust is applying for this accreditation.The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance will soon be conducting an extensive review of each applicant's policies and programs. The public comment period for the Accreditation is now open. The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications, so if you have anything you would like to let the commission know (hopefully it's good), now is the time to do it. Comments must relate to how North Florida Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/indicator-practices. Or to learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, please visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3138; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on North Florida Land Trust's accreditation must be received by January 1, 2012.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! If you have questions about the North Florida Land Trust, or you would like to register for an event, learn more about conserving your land or becoming a member, if you'd like to volunteer, or if you would simply like to give us feedback on the work we do, we'll respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Staff
Bonnie E. Barnes, Executive Director info@northfloridalandtrust.org Board of Directors
Bonnie Barnes is the Executive Director of North Florida Land Trust. She is a former business owner in Jacksonville, FL for 14 years in advertising, marketing and public relations, and now uses those talents to help northeast Florida conserve critical undeveloped lands in seven counties.
Bonnie earned her MBA from Jacksonville University in 2006 and attended Harvard's Executive Leadership program. She is an alumni of Leadership Jacksonville and the North Florida Regional Leadership Academy, and a Fellow of the National Environmental Leadership Program out of Washington, DC.
In 2000, she was "Small Business Leader of the Year" for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
For pleasure, Bonnie is an avid scuba diver who is certified to scientifically monitor offshore reefs in northeast Florida.
