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GTCI COMMUNITY TORTOISE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS
A tremendous number of people have moved into communities where the developers had opted to mitigate with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for the protected species that lived on the property at the time before development took place. Mitigation involves payment per tortoise (or per specimen of other listed species), plus an additional fee for high quality habitat. These funds are suppose to be used to purchase high quality tortoise habitat somewhere in the region of the development. When possible, these lands are supposed to be adjacent to other protected areas. FWC is then supposed to develop and carry out a management plan to ensure that the habitat is top quality. Meanwhile, the tortoises and other protected species are left "in situ." This means that in many communities the tortoises are killed, or at least their habitat becomes inhospitable. In many communities, especially those that are sold one lot at a time, large numbers of tortoises and other state and federally listed species may be involved.
Often these communities become battlegrounds between the folks who have lived there and gained a respect and care for the tortoises, and those people who wish to build their houses on the "not so vacant" lots. Many of the people moving in from the north have no idea what a gopher tortoise is, let alone that they have to, by law, take care of those tortoises. Oftentimes the contractor who was hired to clear the land or to build the house couldn't care less, and has learned that the chance of being caught destroying tortoises or their burrows is slim to none. The only time they get caught is when the residents contact FWC regarding the presence of tortoises on the property. This may cause conflict and confusion on the part of the new residents and embitter relationships between neighbors before they even meet.
GTCI has been conducting a pilot project in Citrus County in Sugar Mill Woods with the homeowners' associations and caring residents to help defuse this issue and to attempt to retain local residents in safe areas. This effort has been extremely successful. The two teams of volunteers have trapped and moved more than 100 tortoises a year from residential lots to the community-owned green space. Many builders now appreciate the fact that they do not have to obtain a permit from FWC, which takes many weeks and often requires the services of an environmental consultant. GTCI applies for and obtains the permit. Our staff trains the volunteers, and enforces strict rules regarding such issues as trespassing on property where permission has not been granted.
Green Space is Needed
The most important requirement, besides dedicated volunteers, is a place within the community to which the tortoises can be relocated. Some counties require that there be green space and natural areas and that they be large enough to sustain tortoises. Keep in mind that usually we can locate only two tortoises per acre of habitat, sometimes more.
Coordinators and Volunteers
For the project to be successful, there must be enough people to trap the tortoises in a timely fashion on each lot before clearing takes place. Each group requires a leader to handle communications with the homeowners' association and GTCI. We are kept abreast of every site trapped and all tortoises captured (size, sex, age class).
Training
Volunteers are encouraged to take the GTCI courses on field techniques. The staff will conduct training programs for community volunteers and provide training on site including proper trapping methods, handling and releasing methods. A core group of people must complete this training before a permit is applied for.
GTCI Supplies
GTCI supplies the permitted group with copies of permits, letters to contractors and property owners, a starting supply of bucket traps and other materials. The Community Stewards will be responsible to re-supply themselves with all the necessities and to help raise any funds needed (and hopefully some donations for GTCI).
FWC and Community Involvement
It is likely that if you call your local FWC office, you will not be encouraged to try to save tortoises in your community. FWC simply does not have the staff or budget to handle such programs, although these are extremely important in encouraging people to care about protected species and to help eliminate the dark paradox brought on by the mitigation program. A GTCI poll in 2001 found that in that year alone, some 50,000 to 170,000 tortoises were moved by private individuals from roadways and communities being developed to natural areas, especially parks, state and national forests and wildlands. This amazing number demonstrates that people do care.
If GTCI does get involved, we will need good information regarding the numbers of tortoises in harm's way, as well as regarding the recipient site environment - specifically, whether or not it is acceptable tortoise habitat, and how many tortoises can be placed there. Normally we make a site visit. We may also need the prospective volunteers to obtain a map, aerial photos, and other data required for obtaining a permit.
Other Community Programs
GTCI has worked with a number of communities by providing on-site training programs for homeowners' associations on how to manage on-site tortoise and protected species preserves. We have developed habitat management and monitoring programs designed so the HOA can do most of the work themselves, without having to hire experts or pay huge fees in making and keeping the habitat tortoise-friendly.
If your community wishes to discuss the possibility of beginning a program, or your Homeowners' Association needs some guidance. Please contact Ray Ashton at hypertortoise@aol.com |
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