During the 2019 NADO Annual Training Conference (October 19 - 22 in Reno, NV), Pat Steed shares information on how RDOs are utilizing their expertise to support the military, military families and communities.

1. Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR)
Sentinel Landscape
Central Florida
Regional Planning Council
Patricia M. Steed
Executive Director
cfrpc.org

2. The Partnership Begins
2004 (State of Florida)
• Encourage compatible land uses
• Prevent incompatible encroachment
around military installations
• Local governments required to transmit
proposed relevant Comprehensive Plan
& Land Development Code
amendments for neighboring military
installation for review
• Address compatibility in Comp Plans

3. Avon Park Air Force Range
• World-class training for all branches of the Armed
Forces+
• Largest Primary Training Range east of the
Mississippi River
• 106,000+ acre day/night training range

4. APAFR Partnership
• 2010 Joint Land Use
Study (JLUS is
Federally funded)
• Portions of 4 Central
Florida Counties and
3 Cities
• Coordinating local,
state, federal and
non-governmental
efforts to protect the
Military Mission

5. • 20 Military Installations in Florida.
• Provide a $84.9 billion annual
economic impact.
• More than 800,000 jobs in Florida.
The Military’s Economic Benefits to the
State of Florida

6. Agriculture’s Economic Benefits to the
State of Florida
• 2nd in economic
importance just after
tourism
• >$160 billion in sales
revenues
• >1.5 million jobs

7. Sentinel Landscape Basics
• 2013 Partnership between:
• US Department of
Agriculture (USDA)
• US Department of
Defense (DOD)
• US Department of
Interior (DOI)
• APAFR designated in 2016
as 1 of 7 Sentinel
Landscapes nationwide

8. Our Mission
A Partnership for the future:
• Supporting our agriculture
• Respecting our natural resources
• Strengthening our national
defense

9. Agricultural Efforts
• Florida Forest Service’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
(easement partnerships)
• Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Agricultural Conservation
Easement Program (easement partnerships)
• Local Soil and Water Conservation District’s Best Management Practices
(outreach)
• Florida Farm Bureau Federation and USDA’s Farm Service Agency
(outreach and financial assistance)

10. Natural Resource Efforts
• Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (outreach and
coordination)
• US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Everglades Headwaters Refuge and Partners
for Fish and Wildlife Program (easement partnerships and financial
assistance)
• The Nature Conservancy’s long-standing relationship (easement
partnerships)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Landowner
Assistance Program (outreach)
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever
Acquisition Program (easements partnerships)
• Local Natural Resources Programs (outreach and easement partnerships)

11. National Defense Efforts
• Support endangered species through land
stewardship efforts
• Encourage compatible development with emphasis
on working lands and conservation
• Leverage the Readiness and Environmental
Protection Integration Program (REPI) to support
partnerships

12. •Prioritization
•Engagement
•Partnerships
•Support
Military Influence Planning Areas
(MIPAs)

13. Accomplishments to Date
• Completed GIS Database
• Priority Action Plan completed to guide and assess activities
• Conservation Guide developed for Landowner distribution
• Monthly meetings with Federal Coordinating Committee as well as
Local Coordination Group
• Partnership Representatives from 35 organizations routinely engage
in Sentinel Landscape efforts
• Coordinate proposals to Department of Defense’s REPI program to
secure additional funding for land conservation
• Managing established relationships while building new ones
• Rank priorities for USDA’s Agricultural Land Easement
applications

14. LAX 2019
• Outreach event held in Sebring
• Focused on cost-share, technical assistance, and conservation
easement opportunities
• 17 presenters/exhibitors from local, state, federal, and non-
governmental organizations (including landowners)
• Attendees from 10 counties

15. Efforts Ongoing / Moving Forward
• Priority consideration in existing funding processes to
landowners
• Joint programs and projects
• Easier and faster delivery of conservation programs
• Improved coordination across different resource
priorities
• File share resource
• Program Coordinator (CFRPC staff)
• Alternative incentive-based conservation tools

16. Efforts Ongoing / Moving Forward
• Interactive, Realtime
GIS Database
• Action Plan
Implementation
(innovative
conservation tools)
• Continued
Coordination

17. APAFR Sentinel Landscape
For information, visit our website.
sentinellandscapes.org
or
cfrpc.org