What is Significant Wildlife Habitat and How is it Protected in Hillsborough County?
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By: Keith Wiley, Environmental Scientist II
Land Development Review and Permitting
Planning & Growth Management Department |
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Aldo Leopold said, “Wilderness is a resource which can shrink but not grow.” Today a considerable amount of Hillsborough County’s natural landscape has been altered because of urban, suburban, agriculture and mining activities. Natural plant communities comprise a small yet significant portion of the remaining unaltered landscape in the county. |
| A portion of these remaining areas comprised of contiguous stands of natural plant communities, both wetland and upland, have the potential to support healthy and diverse populations of wildlife. Because of their environmental importance, these areas have been designated by the County as significant wildlife habitat. The protection of these environmentally sensitive areas is necessary to prevent further isolation and fragmentation of existing core habitat blocks and corridors essential for maintaining viable wildlife populations. Upland wildlife habitat areas are protected by the Planning and Growth Management Department while wetland habitat is protected by the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission. |
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Natural upland habitats consist of xeric (dry) and mesic (moderately moist) plant communities. Xeric communities include sandhill, sand pine scrub, xeric oak scrub, xeric hammocks and scrubby flatwoods. |
| Mesic communities include dry prairies, pine flatwoods and mesic hammocks. Many of Florida’s endangered and threatened wildlife species are exclusive residents of these habitat types. We do have a variety of wildlife residing in the County. Such listed wildlife species include the burrowing owl, eastern indigo snake, Florida mouse, fox squirrel, gopher tortoise, gopher frog, pine snake, scrub jay and southeastern American kestrel. Common wildlife species occupying these habitats include the bobcat, Bachman’s sparrow, barred owl, bobwhite, box turtle, eastern mole, gray fox, oak toad, pocket gopher, red-headed woodpecker, screech owl, spotted skunk and the white tailed deer just to name a few. |
The significant wildlife habitat regulations are normally administrated through the natural resources permitting process, but can also be incorporated into rezoning and operating permit applications. When an application is reviewed it is evaluated, along with other natural resources, for the presence significant wildlife habitat. If present, a certain percentage of the upland habitat is required to be protected either through onsite or offsite preservation methods offered under the Land Development Code.
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| There are ample opportunities throughout the county to explore and appreciate these rapidly declining upland natural plant communities and their unique wildlife inhabitants. Most opportunities exist on publicly preserved lands throughout the |
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| county including Balm Boyette Scrub, Balm Scrub, Blackwater Creek, Golden Aster Scrub, Hillsborough River State Park, Little Manatee River State Park, Flatwoods Park and Rhodine Scrub. Other protected upland habitat areas, though not necessarily open to the public, are incorporated in the subdivision design of several planned developments throughout the county. These upland preserves are normally configured abutting an existing preservation area or protected riparian corridor within the development project. |
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In the introduction it was stated why it is important to protect habitat in order to maintain diverse and healthy wildlife populations, but why else is it necessary to protect natural ecosystems? Well, directly and indirectly we all benefit from the resources and processes that are supplied from natural ecosystems. These benefits have been defined as ecological or environmental services. |
| By protecting wildlife habitat we ultimately secure the services these areas provide our community. Some of the fundamental services provided by natural ecosystems include carbon sequestration, water filtration, nutrient cycling, spiritual motivation and recreational opportunities. Though difficult to estimate, a replacement cost can be approximated for each service lost. A few replacement cost examples include higher pollution standards, increase in water treatment plants, decrease in primary production, increase in travel to experience recreational opportunities, and the loss of tourism revenue. Such costs are likely absorbed in some way by the affected community. |
| So, if you are not afraid of the heat and a little sweat. Lace up your hiking boots, grab a pair binoculars and strap on a daypack. Enjoy a trek through some of Hillsborough County’s unique and priceless natural resources because as Edward Abbey wrote, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” |
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Latest statistics:
- According to the amended 2007 Significant Wildlife Habitat Map, there are approximately 98,000 acres of significant wildlife habitat in Hillsborough County.
- To date, approximately 14,000 acres of upland significant wildlife habitat have been permanently protected in Hillsborough County.
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Planning and Growth Management is the County's full service community development department that conducts planning, zoning, development review, permitting and inspections services. The Department serves the public under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Administrator.
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