Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) released its revised Gopher Tortoise Management Plan in accordance with the Threatened and Endangered Species regulation, Florida Administrative Code, Rule 68A-27. The gopher tortoise is designated as a threatened species within the state of Florida effective November 2007. Rule 68A-27.004 states that “No person shall take, attempt to take, pursue, xxxx, harass, capture, possess, sell or transport any gopher tortoise or parts thereof or their eggs, or molest, damage, or destroy gopher tortoise xxxxxxx, except as authorized by Commission permit or when complying with Commission approved guidelines for specific actions which may impact gopher tortoises and their xxxxxxx. A gopher tortoise xxxxxx is a tunnel with a cross-section that closely approximates the shape of a gopher tortoise. Permits will be issued based upon whether issuance would further management plan goals and objectives.”
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The state of Florida completed the first revision of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan (Plan) in September 2012. For the 10-year plan, the overarching objective of no net loss of gopher tortoises will be accomplished by meeting all the following objectives:
(1) Minimize the loss of gopher tortoises by 2022 by ensuring humane and responsible translocation of all gopher tortoises from lands proposed for development, minimizing illegal harvest of tortoises, creating best management practices (BMPs) for agricultural and silvicultural lands, implementing methods to reduce juvenile mortality, reducing loss of tortoises to disease, and reducing vehicle-related mortality through education and exclusion measures.
(2) Increase and improve gopher tortoise habitat by 2022. This will require ongoing coordination with public agencies on the management of gopher tortoise habitat on protected lands in addition to restoring degraded lands with potential gopher tortoise habitat. Both public and private land acquisition averaging 57,000 acres per year will help to conserve the species distribution and maintain wildlife corridors between undeveloped lands. Identifying addition incentives to encourage habitat management and conservation easements on private lands is instrumental to increasing the acres of managed and protected habitat.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Progress on the implementation and completion of conservation actions outlined in the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan (GTMP, September 2012) continue to be achieved. The GTMP guides the continued recovery of the gopher tortoise in Florida through 2022. For this 10-year plan, the overarching objective of no net loss of gopher tortoises will be accomplished by meeting four objectives: minimize loss, increase and improve habitat, enhance and restore populations, and maintain the gopher tortoise’s function as a keystone species. The plan presents a suite of conservation strategies and actions that serve to achieve these objectives. The actions are captured under the following broad categories: regulation, permitting, local government coordination, law enforcement, habitat protection, habitat management, population management, disease management, incentives, monitoring, education and outreach, and research. Significant progress has been made on completing gopher tortoise surveys using Line Transect Distance Sampling under a contract with the Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Ecological Research Center. Future plans to continue this effort with a new contractor are planned for the upcoming year. New technologies to engage citizens and obtain data on sightings and also road mortality have been implemented and initial data is being collected. A significant mortality was documented in August 2015 at Lake Louisa State Park and follow-up surveys and sampling has been done and is planned for this year. Development in Florida has significantly increased and the number of gopher tortoises relocated has also increased. The permitting system created in 2008 is working well and the recipient sites are managing the habitat and monitoring the populations as required. Permitting guidelines’ revisions were approved by the FWC Commission in February 2015 and have been fully implemented. Additionally, The Florida Department of Agriculture adopted new Wildlife Best Management Practices for Forestry and Agriculture and are in the process of being implemented. The FWC continues to work with stakeholders to discuss any new challenges and work together toward possible solutions throughout the implementation of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan. The continued participation of stakeholders is important to the long-term conservation of the species. The implementation and completion of many management plan actions to protect the gopher tortoise and its habitat has made an impact on the status of the key...
