The Conservation Trust was founded in 1999. Our founder, David Carr is the son of Archie Carr, author and sea turtle conservationist, and Marjorie Carr, founder of Florida Defenders of the Environment who stopped the construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which was decommissioned. The state protected the former barge canal lands as a greenway, which was the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, in her honor.

Mission: The mission of the Conservation Trust for Florida is to conserve the rural landscapes of Florida. We accomplish this by direct action--including conservation easements and land purchase--and by assisting rural landowners in retaining their traditional and productive land-use activities. Our focus is on working landscapes--farms, ranches, woodlots--as well as natural areas, and we are especially concerned with building or retaining landscape connectivity.

Background and Purpose: Florida's renowned natural beauty and diversity is being seriously threatened by sprawling development. In response, various private and governmental organizations and programs now identify and protect ecologically sensitive, recreationally important, or globally significant lands. However, the rural lands that form much of the matrix of Florida--the ranches, farms, or woodlots that often have been in family ownership for several generations--receive little protection or attention, and are rapidly being sold and developed as owners pass on and new generations cannot or will not continue the traditional lifestyles. This contributes to sprawl into some of the most attractive and peaceful areas remaining in the state. The Conservation Trust for Florida was created as a nonprofit 501(c)3 land trust to identify and protect these dwindling landscapes so that rural lifestyles may continue, open lands may be protected for future generations, and development may be more effectively directed away from culturally, aesthetically, historically, and ecologically valuable rural areas.

Means of Operation: Our philosophy is to work with rural landowners on a strictly voluntary basis to identify and broaden their land-use options beyond selling to developers. We assist them in either retaining their lands in private ownership for continued use, or in seeking other creative and innovative options that will retain the open, rural character of the landscape. Our means for doing so include voluntary conservation easements, planned gifts, purchases, or other measures to either retain private ownership for traditional land use or place the lands in public ownership for custodianship in perpetuity. Retention or reestablishment of landscape connections is a high priority. Efforts are conducted with private landowners in a strictly cooperative and collaborative manner. We also offer educational programs and materials regarding the importance of conserving our rural landscapes as well as the various means to do so. We operate through pursuit of grants, gifts, and general fundraising activities.