Florida to receive 750 K for statewide habitat conservation plan

The federal government is providing nearly $35 million in grants to 20 states to help protect a number of endangered species including a number of sea turtle species that nest on Florida beaches.

Florida is getting 750 thousand dollars to draw up a statewide habitat conservation plan for Florida Beaches in 35 Coastal Counties Statewide.

Habitat Conservation Plans are agreements between that allow a landowners to undertake otherwise lawful activities on their property, even if they may impact listed species.

In return, the landowner agrees to conservation measures designed to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impact of those actions.

HCPs may also be developed by a county or state to cover certain activities of all landowners within their jurisdiction and may address multiple species.

The grant will help collect data on endangered coastal species, including the activities in the coastal area and their threats to listed species. 

The goal is to allow ongoing beach structure protection measures while limiting and mitigating the adverse effects to federally listed nesting loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, green, and hawksbill sea turtles, five beach mouse subspecies, and shorebirds, including wintering piping plover. 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will lead the effort.

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