FAQs 

What is the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program?

The Environmentally Endangered Lands Program is dedicated to conservation through land acquisition and management. The program protects Brevard County's unique natural habitats, while managing them for their rare, threatened, endangered, or endemic plants and animals.

What is the mission of the Environmentally Endangered Lands program?

The mission is to protect and preserve biological diversity through responsible stewardship of Brevard County's natural resources. The program:

• acquires, protects, and maintains environmentally endangered lands guided by science and the best available practices for land management.
• protects the rich biological diversity of Brevard County for future generations.
• provides passive recreation and environmental education opportunities to Brevard's citizens and visitors without taking away from the conservation goals of the program.
• supports active citizen volunteer participation and community involvement.

What kinds of land are used for conservation?

The primary objective of the Program is for acquisition of environmentally endangered lands for preservation, conservation, and responsible long-term management. These lands are determined to be environmentally unique and irreplaceable. They contain excellent examples of natural communities, forest resources, plants, animals, coastal and wetlands resources, and geologic features. These lands contribute to the environmental, economic, and aesthetic values of Brevard County.

The ten-member Selection and Management Committee serves as an expert scientific advisory committee to the Board on all issues involving the acquisition and management of environmentally endangered lands within the Program.
Every land purchase is rigorously vetted for ecological value and must be approved by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners.

How much land is in conservation because of the Program’s efforts?

The Program has helped preserve approximately 28,000 acres of land with $42 million in partner and grant funding with the State of Florida and the St Johns River Water Management District. This includes:
Creation of 75 miles of multi-use trails for citizens and visitors to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of Brevard County.
— Protection of over 37 miles of natural shoreline along the Indian River Lagoon and its major tributaries.
— Creation and operation of three Management and Environmental Education Centers that provide regular educational programming and community events for Brevard citizens and visitors supported by $152,000 in grant funding. The centers include:

• Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville
• Pine Island Conservation Area/Sam’s House in north Merritt Island
• Barrier Island Ecosystem Center on the barrier island
• Restoration and management projects on over 25,000 acres, supported by over $4.7 million in grant funding focused on improving natural systems to preserve ecosystem services such as: water conservation, wildlife food sources, wildfire prevention, carbon sequestration, aesthetic and increased land values.

Will the referendum vote in 2022 change the ability of residents and visitors to use these lands?

• No. The Program will continue to provide passive recreation and environmental education opportunities to Brevard's citizens and visitors without taking away from its conservation goals.
• The Program is committed to providing the public with opportunities to enjoy the beauty of Brevard's natural areas with passive recreation activities that do not adversely impact the natural resources, biological diversity, or environmental qualities of a site.
• Passive recreation may include hiking, bicycling, bird watching, canoeing, and horseback riding depending on the individual site.

How is the program funded?

There are two separate funding mechanisms for the Program as approved by the voters. The first is the property tax revenue which is used for the general operation of the program in the above categories and to pay off the debt (interest) on the bonds.

The second is the bond funding which can only be used for the acquisition of the conservation lands, the development of the education centers and other capital expenses such as equipment purchases. These funding mechanisms are typically approved by the voters for a 20-year period. The Program does not receive any General Tax Funding from the County.

How much does it cost to operate the Program and how is the funding allocated?

The annual operations budget for the Program fluctuates between approximately $2.1 million and $2.5 million. This includes staffing, land management activities, operation of three environmental education centers and the administration office, equipment maintenance and fuel.

What is the cost to a homeowner?

• Homeowners have funded the program since 1991. At the 2024 proposed level, a homeowner of a $350,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, will pay $44 per year – about $3.60 per month (This is 0.1456 mils). The new extension allows bonding of up to $50 million - costing about $8/year more than last year.
• To stretch these funds as far as possible, the Program forms partnerships with federal, state and local agencies that are committed to the protection of natural resources and our long-term quality of life.

How does the program acquire land?

The Program is a 'willing-seller' program, which means it can only purchase property from people who want to sell their land. The Program does not control or restrict private land rights or condemn land.

Most of the land the Program has in conservation was purchased in partnership with the State of Florida. In 1990, the State passed a landmark legislation called Preservation 2000, which provided for $3 billion over 10 years for the acquisition of conservation lands throughout Florida. In 2000 the legislature passed the Florida Forever Act, which picked up where Preservation 2000 left off and provided for another $3 billion over the next ten years.

How is the price for land determined?

• Lands under consideration for acquisition under the referendum are required to have multiple independent appraisals by State-certified real estate appraisers. Most of the lands also require a third independent review of the two appraisals by a third-party State-certified appraiser.
• Any acquisition with an appraisal value of $750,000 or more is required to undergo an additional review by a Land Acquisition Review Team made up of multiple County department directors and the County Clerk’s Office prior to the acquisition contract is submitted to the County Commission for consideration.
• The final decision for the purchase of all land rests with the Board of County Commissioners.

What is land management and how is the Program involved?

Buying lands for conservation requires a pledge to long-term land management. For centuries, natural cycles of fire, water flow, and weather shaped the habitats we see today. Now roads, development, and other human disturbances have fragmented the landscape. These natural cycles can no longer happen on their own, and it is up to land managers to re-create them to preserve our unique species and habitats. Examples of land management activities include securing property boundaries, implementing prescribed fires, removing invasive plants, restoring hydrological cycles, and creating public access trails. These practices maintain healthy sanctuaries and often restore areas that have been disturbed or neglected.

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