Environmental Science: ELAPP

I attended a lecture by Ross Dickerson who is with the Hillsborough County Environmental Lands Management. His presentation was on the Jan. K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. The program covers almost 62, 000 acres and is the largest preservation program funded by local government in the state. ELAPP’s purpose is to provide the process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant lands in Hillsborough.

Started in 1987 they have had three referendums (1987, 1990, & 2008) where voters have consented to contribute taxes to purchasing and managing these wildlife corridors and preservation lands ($258.6 Million from citizens and taxes). ELAPP works with SWFWMD, Tampa, and Temple Terrace on preservation and SWFWMD and Tampa Port Authority for restoration (ex. Cockroach Aquatic Reserve). Mr. Dickerson discussed the four major ecosystem services provided by their management lands: Provisional Services (items extracted from nature such as wood and oil), Cultural Services (recreational sites, etc.), Regulating Services (pollination, decomposition, etc.), and Supporting Systems (nutrient cycling, etc.).

He explained that ELAPP’s Strategic Acquisition Plan includes identifying critical wildlife corridors, specifically those upland sites where riverine connections are absent or not substantial and have a variety of soil types, where they can expand over the next 2-5 years. He also explained how prescribed burns are a great help in creating new growth zones so flowers and native grasses can grow. Lastly he explained how ELAPP preserves have been shown to pay for themselves through the various ecosystem services. Their estimated yearly benefit has been calculated at $99,871,695. I had no idea how large the management system in Hillsborough was, nor how much larger it could be until I attended this talk.