The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc.

Since it began its efforts in early 2020, The Environmental Conservancy of North Port And Surrounding Areas has acquired 43 parcels across North Port and several areas of Charlotte County totaling approximately 14 acres (see the full list on our website at www.ecnorthport.com). Developers are far ahead of us in the land acquisition arena and so without increasing our reserves, the builders can and will continue to close the gap on what natural land and habitat for wildlife remains in our neighborhoods.

Our services are essential in helping preserve neighborhood land. In this critical time for land conservation in Florida, the services we provide have never been more important.

Join us in our efforts to acquire more land by donating today!

Via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/91759a69

Via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com

Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286.

Each donation, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact on preserving our local greenspaces and creating safe habitats for wildlife.

We are a 501c3 non-profit entity permanently conserving undeveloped natural land parcels in neighborhoods of North Port and its Surrounding Areas (Sarasota and Charlotte Counties) to save nature by providing greenspace for wildlife/native plants/native trees as our area continues to develop at a rapid pace.

Providing “stepping stone” habitat for wildlife in the form of protected natural neighborhood land parcels is the best way to help ensure they will always have a place to call home.

Greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

www.ecnorthport.com

Via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com

Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286.

WHAT: With this acquisition we would permanently protect 1/4 acre of natural habitat abundant with native plants and trees in a Charlotte County designated Florida Scrub-jay zone. We located one inactive Gopher Tortoise burrow on the parcel; it could return. They are solitary animals that dig and use multiple burrows within their home range. They may even alternate between burrows dug by other tortoises, but only one tortoise will occupy a burrow at a time. On our visit to the parcel to obtain the photographs in this write up, Florida Scrub-jays were heard calling nearby. (Note: removal of Brazilian pepper and other invasives would be a part of our land management plan).

WHY: Englewood hosts a population of the Florida Scrub-jay and Gopher Tortoise, both are threatened species. While Charlotte County has its own Scrub-jay Habitat Conservation Plan which requires builders to pay designated fees to clear lots in Scrub-jay zones County-wide, those fees are then used to buy land only in the Eastern part of the County to protect Scrub-jay habitat there where the birds also live. Florida Scrub-jays are not relocated. Gopher Tortoises must be removed for a fee as well prior to commencement of construction; they are relocated to other areas of the State in most cases under Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission's current program.

As development progresses, Englewood neighborhood natural habitat for the Scrub-jays, Gopher Tortoises and other wildlife is being slowly erased.

Our land acquisitions provide natural "stepping stone” habitat pockets in neighborhoods which is the best way to help ensure wildlife will always have a place to call home in Englewood.

Upon completion of a new residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on a lot are replanted, and when a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm) it is common that it will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is always recommended, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

WHO: We are a 501c3 non-profit that acquires and permanently conserves neighborhood land in North Port AND Surrounding Areas (Charlotte/Sarasota Counties to date) for preservation of, and education and research about, neighborhood wildlife, native plants, trees and soil as our population continues to grow at a rapid pace. In other words, WE SAVE NEIGHBORHOOD NATURE.

Since we began our mission in early 2020 we have acquired and protected 18 parcels in North Port and 23 parcels across Charlotte County for a total of 41 to date.

QUESTIONS? Visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at The Environmental Conservancy of North Port And Surrounding Areas or Instagram @npconservancy.

Tax ID Number 84-4132468.

Via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b39d1e41

Via Venmo: Environmental Conservancy NP- @NPconservancy (if using Venmo please note "Port Charlotte” on your donation).

Via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com (please note that your donation is for Port Charlotte).

Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286. Please note “Port Charlotte” in the memo section.

WHO: We are a 501c3 non-profit entity focused on acquiring and permanently conserving undeveloped natural land parcels in neighborhoods of North Port AND its Surrounding Areas to provide greenspace for wildlife/native plants/native trees [aka nature] to continue thriving upon as it has for decades as our population continues to grow at a rapid pace.

WHAT: With this acquisition we would permanently protect 1/4 acre of habitat for use by wildlife, along with an abundance of Florida native plants and trees, all thriving in native soil. This parcel is abundant with oak trees of various ages.

Providing “stepping stone” habitat for wildlife in the form of protected natural neighborhood land parcels is the best way to help ensure they will always have a place to call home.

Unfortunately, most builders do not choose to conserve anything on land parcels when they are cleared for home construction and then upon completion of a residence, few to no local native plants or trees that once grew on the parcels are replanted. If they are, (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak, Dahoon holly) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

Greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna, especially threatened species such as the Gopher Tortoise and Florida Scrub-jay.

Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.

QUESTIONS? Contact us through our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram @npconservancy.

Tax ID Number 84-4132468

Via GoFundMe https://gofund.me/6293d602

Via Venmo: Environmental Conservancy NP- @NPconservancy (if using Venmo please note "Harbour Heights” on your donation).

Via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com (please note that your donation is for Harbour Heights).

Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286. Please note “Harbour Heights” in the memo section.

WHAT:

LOTS 17 and 18, MIDDLE TERRACE (Parcel ID 402315134012):

3 Florida Scrub-jays have been documented on the Middle Road parcels, and at least 2 active Gopher Tortoise burrows were found (one adult, one juvenile); likely more will be confirmed active with trail camera installation.

Important wildlife vegetation of note: Low palmetto with lots of open sand; Lyonia; Open sandy area (a Scrub-jay favorite) with a lot of small Blueberry bushes; Several scrub oaks.

2 Florida Scrub-jays

Middle Terrace

3rd Scrub-jay

Gopher Tortoise burrow 1

Gopher Tortoise burrow 2

Middle Terrace map

AND

Lots 20 and 21, DUMONT DRIVE (Parcel ID 402316287007):

This parcel is in a documented Florida Scrub-jay zone.

Dumont Drive

Dumont Drive map

WHY:

Harbour Heights hosts a population of the Florida Scrub-jay, a federally threatened species that is rapidly losing habitat as our area's human population continues to grow.

While Charlotte County has its very own Scrub-jay Habitat Conservation Plan which requires builders to pay designated fees to clear lots in Scrub-jay zones County-wide, those fees are then used to buy land only in the Eastern part of the County to protect Scrub-jay habitat where the birds also live. It is not spent in Harbour Heights.

As a result, as development continues, Harbour Heights neighborhood natural habitat for the Scrub-jays is being slowly erased, to their detriment. Our land acquisitions provide “stepping stone” habitat pockets in Scrub-jay neighborhoods which is the best way to help ensure they, and other wildlife, will always have a place to call home in Harbour Heights.

Gopher tortoises live in Harbour Heights too. They are long-lived reptiles that dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. They can share their burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. Under State law Gopher Tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises. In the majority of cases, the tortoises are taken to other land parcels miles away known as “relocation sites”. Tortoises have a natural “homing device” and will attempt to escape the relocation site for extended periods of time. Some will become depressed; many will eventually fail to thrive. On average currently, the cost of removing 1 tortoise from a neighborhood land parcel is $7,200.

Further, upon completion of a residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on the lot are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna and tree canopy.

Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.

In conclusion, we believe greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

WHO: We are a 501c3 non-profit entity focused on acquiring and permanently conserving undeveloped natural land parcels in neighborhoods of North Port and its Surrounding Areas (Sarasota and Charlotte Counties) to provide greenspace for wildlife/native plants/native trees [aka nature] to continue thriving upon as it has for decades while our population continues to grow at a rapid pace.

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram www.instagram.com/npconservancy

Tax ID Number 84-4132468

Check out this video on our YouTube channel recorded on September 13, 2023 of the Scrub-jays utilizing this parcel as habitat: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ezvqbx-3fOo

WHO: We are a 501c3 non-profit entity focused on acquiring and permanently conserving undeveloped natural land parcels in neighborhoods of North Port and its Surrounding Areas (Sarasota and Charlotte Counties) to provide greenspace for wildlife/native plants/native trees [aka nature] to continue thriving upon as it has for decades as our population continues to grow at a rapid pace.

WHAT: Lots 31 and 32 Barcelos Court/Copiapo Circle, Punta Gorda (Deep Creek) Charlotte County, Florida 33983 (1/2 acre).

HOW: RAISE $40,000 ($20,000 per lot) by December 1, 2023 to reach the purchase price goal. Donations can be made via this GoFundMe. Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286. Donations can also be made via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com (please note that your donation is for the Deep Creek GoFundMe).

Deep Creek hosts a population of the Florida Scrub-jay, a threatened species rapidly losing habitat as our area's human population continues to grow. Once a building, earthmoving or tree removal permit is in process, U.S. Fish & Wildlife reviews the proposal and identifies potential negative effects to the birds. If impacts are identified, strategies for avoidance, minimization or mitigation of these impacts is required. In most cases, mitigation is required of the developer and development can then proceed. Examples of mitigation are habitat replacement at a ratio of 2:1 in the form of title to other occupied lands, conservation easements, purchase credit at a scrub-jay conservation bank, or payment to a State scrub-jay land acquisition fund which is used to purchase habitat elsewhere. Florida Scrub-jays are not relocated; instead as development continues, local neighborhood natural habitat for these birds is being slowly erased. Providing “stepping stone” habitat in Scrub-jay neighborhoods in the form of protected natural land parcels is the best way to help ensure they, and other wildlife, will always have a place to call home in Deep Creek.

Florida Scrub-jay - Photo Credit: Jim Rogers

Deep Creek also hosts a population of the Gopher Tortoise, a Florida threatened species. This 1/2 acre parcel has a total of 17 burrows upon it, 12 were confirmed active on last inspection. Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. Gopher tortoises can share their burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. Under State law Gopher Tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises. In the majority of cases, the tortoises are taken to other land parcels miles away known as “relocation sites”. Tortoises have a natural “homing device” and will attempt to escape the relocation site for extended periods of time. Some will become depressed; many will eventually fail to thrive.

Further, upon completion of a residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on the lot are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna and tree canopy.

Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.

In conclusion, protected greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram www.instagram.com/npconservancy

Tax ID Number 84-4132468

Donations can also be made via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com (please note that your donation is for North Port).

North Port hosts a population of the Gopher Tortoise, a Florida threatened species. This parcel has 6 confirmed active burrows upon it; at least 2 more were noted as in-active at this time. Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles that dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. They can share their burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. Under State law Gopher Tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises. In the majority of cases, the tortoises are taken to other land parcels miles away known as “relocation sites”. Tortoises have a natural “homing device” and will attempt to escape the relocation site for extended periods of time. Some will become depressed; many will eventually fail to thrive.

On average currently, the cost of removing 1 tortoise from a neighborhood land parcel is $7,200.

Further, upon completion of a residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on the lot are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna and tree canopy.

Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.

In conclusion, we believe greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram www.instagram.com/npconservancy

Tax ID Number 84-4132468

Removal of excessive native grapevine is needed.

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram @npconservancy.

Tax ID Number 84-4132468

THIS FUNDRAISER WAS COMPLETED ON 5/10/2023 - THE FULL AMOUNT SOUGHT WAS RECEIVED BY DONATIONS BOTH ON AND OFF OF GOFUNDME. THE PARCEL WAS PURCHASED SUCCESSFULLY AND IS NOW A PROTECTED CONSERVATION PARCEL. DONATIONS ARE STILL WELCOME AT ANY TIME AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE OUR MISSION OF PROTECTING AS MANY PARCELS IN NEIGHBORHOODS OF SARASOTA AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES AS POSSIBLE. DONATE AT WWW.ECNORTHPORT.COM.

YOU’RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN NATURE BINGO and help The Environmental Conservancy of North Port And Surrounding Areas purchase and protect a land parcel in the Cranberry Fields neighborhood of North Port!

HOW: FUNDRAISING GOAL Purchase Price: $13,500

Each Nature Bingo Square represents a $100 donation but ANY increment is welcome!

WHO/WHAT: With this purchase we would permanently protect an active Gopher Tortoise burrow (represented by the heart below), 10 oak trees, 1 slash pine tree, 7 sabal palms and multiple native plants.

North Port hosts a population of the Gopher Tortoise, a threatened species rapidly losing habitat as our area's human population continues to grow. When a residential lot is targeted for development, in the majority of cases tortoises must be relocated off-site, are bucket trapped or dug out of their burrows with machinery and then taken many miles from home to a relocation site before complete clear-cutting and scraping of all trees and plants on that lot takes place. Many fail to thrive upon relocation and do not survive.

Upon completion of a home, few to no local native plants that once grew on the lot are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity.

The deadline to raise the purchase funds is April 28th. We'll be keeping track of donations received via the Nature Bingo card shown here and will share periodic updates to it here, in our newsletter and on our social media.

Once we fill the card with donations NATURE WINS and we will purchase and protect the parcel.

TORTOISE EVICTION - DID YOU KNOW?

Sadly, when a residential lot is targeted for development, in the majority of cases tortoises are relocated off-site. They are bucket trapped or dug out of their burrows with machinery and then taken many miles from home to a relocation site before complete clear-cutting and scraping of all trees and plants on that lot takes place. Many fail to thrive upon relocation and do not survive.

This is the aftermath of two different burrows excavated with machinery. A long pole is used to probe the burrow to see if the tortoise is at home during the machine-digging process. Imagine how the tortoise must be feeling while this is going on. And, imagine if someone did this to your home for the purpose of evicting you . . .

Further, upon completion of a home, few to no local native plants or trees that once grew on the lot are replanted. All the more reason to protect greenspace in our neighborhoods.

Greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit www.ecnorthport.com.