Alachua County Forever

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Mission Statement
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To acquire, improve, and manage environmentally significant lands that protect water resources, wildlife habitats and natural areas suitable for resource-based recreation.
 

 

News

About

Values​

Latest News

• County Seeks Applicants for Land Conservation Board
• Land Conservation and Management Program Mandatory Meeting Rescheduled
• County Land Conservation and Management Program Offering Limited Hunting Opportunities on Some County Preserves
• Partnership Between Alachua County and Water Management District Promotes Conservation, Expands Recreational Access at Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area
• Family Legacies Honored through Three Land Conservation Projects
• Farmland Conservation Strategy Public Workshop
• Re-Opened Nature Preserves
• Re-Opened Nature Preserves
• Farmland Conservation Strategy Public Workshop Rescheduled
• Farmland Conservation Proposed Strategy Workshop
• Alachua County Temporarily Closes Four Creeks Preserve – North and South Trailhead for Management Activities
• Conservation Easement Protects Water Quality in Mill Creek and Santa Fe River
• The Wild Spaces Public Places Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board Vacancies
• County Hosts Family-Friendly, Healthy Hike at the Turkey Creek Preserve
• Land Conservation Board Vacancies

 

Why Preserves​

Preserves are purchased to protect, preserve and enhance the unique natural and cultural resources found on the properties and to provide an enjoyable and educational passive recreational experience. Some preserves own a variety of upland and wetland habitats which provide wildlife habitat and support aquifer recharge. Some preserves are part of local and statewide efforts to protect and maintain significant wildlife corridors and protect areas of diverse habitats and relatively mature and diverse undisturbed forest within an area of Alachua County that is rapidly urbanizing.

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Vision and Values

Alachua County Forever will be a conscientious, innovative, progressive leader in land conservation and use acquisition, stewardship and funding development practices to preserve the environmental integrity of Alachua County and improve the quality of life for current and future generations.

Objectives

• To be accountable to the taxpayers.
• ​​​​​To acquire the most environmentally significant habitats.
  
• To use a "No Loss of Conservation Values" stewardship ethic.
• To treat partners, landowners and sellers with respect.
• To leverage the County's local investment.
• To encourage a community land ethic.

ACF project map

ACF Dashboard

• Total Acres Protected:33,703.02 
• Cost of ACF protected lands: $118,053,701.93
• County share: $75,248,018.97
• ​Partner share: $42,805,682.96
• Managed by County: 21,714.65
• Managed by Partners: 11,988.37
• Acreage open now: Currently 70% of preserves are open for public access.
         

May 2022