Land Management

Nature gets a helping hand

Virtual Nature Hike

Join the Savage Christmas Creek Preserve Virtual Nature Hike Join the Isle of Pine Preserve Virtual Nature Hike

Fire Gives New Life

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.

Managing Tree
Resources

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.

Managing Plant Resources

We work with the Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CFCISMA) to control non-native plants.

Find more information:

Managing Wildlife Resources

Diverse and abundant wildlife thrive in our land preserves.

  • Butterflies
  • Sherman’s fox squirrels
  • White-tail deer
  • Gopher tortoise
  • Indigo snakes
  • Rabbits

Numerous native and migratory birds are observed on Orange County's natural lands.

  • Song birds
  • Woodpeckers
  • Wild turkey
  • Sandhill cranes
  • Black vultures
  • Owls
  • Hawks
  • Bald eagles

Managing Imperiled Species Resources

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.

Monitoring Natural Resources

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.

Contact Us

Environmental Protection Division
3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200
Orlando, FL 32803

Phone: (407) 836-1400
Fax: (407) 836-1499
Email: EPD@ocfl.net

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.