THE ARTS; SUPPORTING  LAND PRESERVATION

ART FOR NATURE is a St. Lucie County program to benefit environmental land preservation efforts while promoting the landscape and wildlife arts.

BACKGROUND

St. Lucie County’s diverse native landscapes, from the Atlantic Ocean to its western pinelands, have inspired artists for decades. It is the home of internationally recognized landscape artist “Beanie” Backus who best captured the beauty of native Florida landscapes.

Today, rapid urbanization has threatened our historic Florida landscapes and the wildlife they support. Local artists concerned by the loss of native landscapes and wildlife, and their desire to contribute to St. Lucie County’s existing land preservation program, inspired the creation of the Art For Nature Program.

Each Art for Nature event will be guided by artists who portray the natural environment and desire to contribute to the preservation of native landscapes and wildlife. At these events participating artists donate a portion of their proceeds to the Environmentally Significant Lands Program. Each Art for Nature event will be designed to pay tribute to native landscapes and honor artists who portray their natural beauty.

ESL PROGRAM

The mission of St. Lucie County’s Environmental Lands (ESL) Program is to preserve and protect native habitats and wildlife. Since 1994, over 6,000 acres have been purchased through the Program. A portion of these lands are managed as part of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River Aquatic Preserve and State Buffer Preserve, and the Avalon State Park. The majority are managed as County Natural Area Preserves. All share an overall philosophy of managing lands for the health and protection of native habitats and wildlife while providing passive recreation opportunities for the public. Please view map here.

PROGRAM HISTORY

The St. Lucie County Environmentally Significant Lands (ESL) Program was established in 1991 pursuant to County Comprehensive Plan directives requiring an increase in the acreage of native upland habitat preserved in St. Lucie County. The program was designed to further several policies related to the protection of the County's natural resources while fulfilling the habitat preservation requirement in the 1991 Conservation Element of the County's Comprehensive Plan.

The Program’s long-term goal to preserve 25% of the 1991 native upland habitat acreage, or an additional 12,500 acres, was addressed by the 1994 Bond referendum. The bond program was designed to preserve approximately 5,000 acres over a ten year period. To date, the program has preserved over 6,000 acres.

2002 Comprehensive Plan Objectives and Policies:

The Land Acquisition Finance Committee Reconvenes

In April 2002, the Land Acquisition Finance Committee was reestablished to evaluate alterative funding mechanisms and identify the most suitable means to pay for the continuation of the ESL program and meet the Conservation Element goal of preserving 12,500 acres. This committee’s final recommendations and the results of a recently commissioned Native Habitat Inventory will guide the Board of County Commissioners in making decisions related to the future funding of the program.

The St. Lucie County Environmentally Significant Lands Program is dedicated to preserving declining natural areas and wildlife habitat countywide. The program is partially funded through a $20,000,000 bond referendum approved by County voters on November 8, 1994. These bond funds have allowed the County to apply for and receive matching state and federal grant funds to approximately double our local funds. Lands preserved through the program are evaluated and recommended for purchase by the County’s Land Acquisition Selection Committee. The Land Acquisition Selection Committee is composed of members representing the following: