Prescribed burns promote biodiversity and help minimize the severity of potential wildfires.
Many plants and animals need fire to seed, control competing species, and help wildlife move through the forest.
Learn more about prescribed fire from the Florida Forest Service.
Forest management is conducted to enhance the structure and diversity of forest trees. Planting of pine, hardwood, and cypress trees help to increase wildlife usage and restore impacted natural areas.
We work with the Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CFCISMA) to control non-native plants.
Find more information:
Diverse and abundant wildlife thrive in our land preserves.
Numerous native and migratory birds are observed on Orange County's natural lands.
Some of the imperiled species on Orange County Natural Land include:
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus): Gopher tortoises have been observed on many Green PLACE properties. They tend to dig burrows in open and sunny areas that have patches of bare ground. More than 300 species live in and rely on its burrow for protection.
Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi): An indigo snake has been observed on the northeast portion of Pine Lily Preserve. Habitat loss, road and intentional killing by humans continue to threaten the remaining indigo snake population.
Southern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger niger): Is the largest species of tree squirrels and has been observed on many Green PLACE properties. They prefer open pine Flatwoods and more oak hammocks. Habitat loss is due to developments and unmanaged natural habitat.
Florida Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pratensis): Only an estimated four thousand Florida sandhill cranes remain. Habitats are fast disappearing as Florida continues to lose open rangeland and native prairie to development and agriculture.
More Wildlife Information visit University of Florida EDIS.
We monitor vegetation and wildlife at the Savage/Christmas Creek, Isle of Pine, Pine Lily and Sandhill Preserves.
To see the reports please contact Green PLACE at (407) 836-1400.
Environmental Protection Division 3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32803
All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.