Hillsborough County Florida Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department We manage more than 61,000 acres of environmentally sensitive wildlife habitat and corridors acquired through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).Management responsibilities include:Prescribed burningInvasive species controlWildlife inventoryTrail maintenanceFeral animal controlHabitat improvements for endangered and threatened species of plants and animalsELAPP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant lands in Hillsborough County. It is a citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in every key aspect of the program. ELAPP is not a regulatory program, but lands are identified for the program because of their environmental significance.
Chris Kiddy
Environmental Education and Outreach
Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management
www.HCFLGov.net/conservation
Hillsborough County
Nature Preserves and
Conservation Parks
Overview
• Conservation and Environmental Lands
Management Department
• ELAP Program
• Environmental Lands Management and Challenges
• Ecosystem Services
• Access and Recreation
Photo: Terry Tomalin, Tampa Bay Times, 3/25/10,
www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/paddling-the-hillsborough-
river/1082800
Conservation and Environmental Lands
Management Department (CELM)
Protects natural resources in the following
ways:
• Control invasive and exotic plant species
• Protect conservation lands from overuse
• Restore natural plant communities and ecosystems
• Conduct prescribed burns to improve wildlife habitat
and reduce wildfire risk
• Promote environmental stewardship through
educational programming and outreach
• Voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the
process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and
protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant
lands in Hillsborough County
• Citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in
every key aspect of the program
The Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands
Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP)
Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition
and Protection Program (ELAPP)
• Local response to rapid
development and habitat
loss
• ELAPP authorized and
funded by Hillsborough
County voters in 1987,
1990, and 2008
• Named in honor of Jan K.
Platt, County Commissioner
(1978-2002) and tireless
advocate for ELAPP
ELAPP History: Prioritized Acquisitions
• 63,400 acres for $258.6 million
• Partnered with state and local
investments
• $174 million from ELAPP,
$84.6 million from partnering
agencies
• Preserve management agreements
with SWFWMD, FDEP, Tampa,
Temple Terrace
Local Greenways,
Wildlife Corridors,
Connections
• Brooker Creek
• Coastal Tampa Bay
• Upland and Scrub
habitats
• Little Mana