Apply to Committee Shaping Future Conservation of Lands
We're inviting residents in Clay County to consider applying for a committee that will play a major role in land conservation.
Do you want to make a difference in protecting lands in Clay County?
Use your voice to shape the future conservation of lands across the county and consider applying to join the Land Conservation Committee (LCC).
What will the committee do?
The LCC will evaluate lands which have been nominated for the county to acquire under the newly-adopted Clay Forests and Farms Conservation Land Program (FFCLP). This program aims to protect lands within Clay County that house vital resources like wildlife habitats, drinking water sources, and working forests and farms.
The county will acquire the land by purchasing ownership, or by purchasing a conservation easement, which permanently limits development of the property in exchange for compensation to the owner. Any nominated property must have a willing seller. (No property is ever condemned or “taken” through FFCLP.)
The LCC will rank properties according to the program’s conservation goals, and then make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for each property.
The LCC will also make suggestions on how to manage and maintain the land moving forward, to ensure future success.
What experience is necessary to be considered for the Committee?
The BCC will appoint seven people to form the LCC.
The BCC will appoint two members based on their knowledge of environmentally sensitive lands or natural resources expertise or experience. Examples include representatives from a local Wildlife Management Area, the Bayard Conservation Area, Florida State Parks, State Forests or other environmental agency. The ideal candidates will have at least two years’ experience working in the field of natural resource management and have a Bachelor of Science degree in a related field.
The BCC will appoint two members based on their knowledge of agriculture, silviculture, or animal husbandry expertise or experience. The ideal candidates will have experience in at least two of the above categories, or ten years of experience in at least one.
The BCC will appoint three members to represent the public. Possible candidates should be selected to represent a diverse geography within the county and ideally should have demonstrated an interest in natural resources or environmental issues by active participation in local organizations related to the environment.
How do I apply/find out more information?
You can find out more about the committee, and apply by filling out the online volunteer application at the link below:
You can submit your application from January 1, 2025, through February 28, 2025, and have the opportunity to be selected as a volunteer member of the LCC, which will officially form in the Spring of 2025.
When will the BCC announce its appointments?
The Board will likely appoint the seven-member LCC in late March or April of 2025. We encourage anyone interested in following the committee creation process to check the BCC meeting agendas (which are available a week before the meeting) here: https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.claycountygov.com/government/agendas-and-minutes___.YXAzOmNva2g6YTpvOjljMDE4YjVkZTA5NGMzMmVjOTk1MWRiZGE1MThhNDM3Ojc6YzVkODo5OWI0NmZlMzZlYzk5ZWFkOTBmZWZiMmJhZGRiZDA0YjVlYjZmMjQ2YzFhNTA0MTVlNzdkZGE4Y2QxNzkxZWRkOnQ6VDpO
Who can I reach out to if I have more questions?
You can contact county staff at [email protected] for more information.
