Have Land? Get a Plan

Your property will serve your needs and interests best if it is managed according to a clear plan. A management plan is a specific statement of the goals and objectives you have for your land, followed by a series of activities that will take place in order to meet those objectives. In essence, your plan is a "road map" to guide you from where you are to where you want to be. There are many services and opportunities available to assist you with preparing a management plan for your property:

Succession and Estate Planning

Looking to the future, have you considered what is to happen to your property when you are gone? Unfortunately, many landowners have not thought this through, resulting in forced liquidation of timber, other assets or severe disruptions in management. Succession planning is the process of setting up a smooth transition between you and the future owners of your property.  Estate planning establishes the legal parameters within which land will be held and transferred to heirs. These sites provide resources to assist with this important process:

UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program: Your Land Management Plan: describes the process of developing your goals and a management plan for your property.

Florida Resource and Assistance Map Viewer: This simple interface is designed to help inform management by allowing you to explore a suite of data layers and models. You’ll find information on landowner assistance programs, priority natural resources, biodiversity, landscape connectivity and integrity, surface waters and more.

UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program - Succession and Estate Planning: reviews the essential components, considerations and steps associated with planning for the future of your land.

Florida Forest Service’s Forest Stewardship Program: if you have 20 acres or more, Florida’s Forest Stewardship Program offers landowners assistance with developing a multiple-objective forest management plan and provides access to a multitude of educational resources and programs.

UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program - Conservation Easements: a conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement between a landowner and a government or nongovernment conservation organization that keeps land in agricultural and/or open space uses. The agreement is customized to meet the landowner's objectives and, in most cases, is perpetual. 

Florida Tree Farm Program: for landowners with 10 acres or more, the Tree Farm Program is a forest certification program that recognizes good stewardship of forest resources and access to a growing market for certified wood. Landowners enrolled in the Florida Tree Farm Program receive similar benefits as those enrolled in the Forest Stewardship Program above.

Ties to the Land: produced by Oregon State University and others, this is an invaluable resource for landowners and/or families with agricultural or other land-based businesses.  The website includes streaming video clips, excerpts from theTies to the Land workbook, a calendar of events and links to other relevant sites. 

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Landowner Assistance Program: provides a "one-stop-shop" for landowner's needing habitat management assistance.

Florida’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: assists landowners with conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources. We deliver technical assistance based on sound science and suited to the customer's specific needs. Cost shares and financial incentives are available in some cases.

Florida Wildlife Conservation Guide: an online resource which facilitates effective land use planning, project design and habitat management.