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