Preserving Taylor County’s rural charm and natural heritage for future generations
Taylor County has been identified as having a significant portion of unprotected Florida Wildlife Corridor lands with a total of
284,727 unprotected acres identified in the FWC, and
36% of unprotected FWC land at risk of development.
Welcome to the Taylor 2040 project, a collaborative initiative between 1000 Friends of Florida and the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning (CLCP). Our goal is to empower rural and agricultural landowners in Taylor County with the resources and policy recommendations necessary to permanently protect Florida’s vital wildlife corridor lands.
The Agriculture 2040/2070 report demonstrates how the loss of as much as 2.2 million acres of agricultural land over the coming decades will impact the important contributions provided by agriculture to Florida’s economy and quality of life and threaten the conservation values that many of these lands provide.
With Taylor County’s timber industry facing challenges from recent storm damage and economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever for landowners, residents and local leaders to participate in the community planning process and protect what makes Taylor County special.
Events
Small changes in our landscape add up over time. While Taylor County today is primarily a rural county, with thousands of acres of natural and timber lands, property owners may choose to sell their land and change its use from agricultural to residential, commercial, or industrial. How we use our lands impacts the quality of life and “feel” of our community. Land use changes can greatly benefit a community by driving economic development. It can also transform a place from rural to urban, reducing the number of places we can go for activities like hunting, camping, and fishing.
On August 29th, 2024, we convened the Taylor 2040 Workshop in Perry to hear from community members and local decision makers about their vision for Taylor County’s future over the next twenty years (and beyond!). We thank those who joined us for this interactive event and presentation about future growth and development trends, and for the robust group discussion about protecting natural and agricultural lands in the “Tree Capital of the South.” Please see the workshop presentation and Taylor 2040 report below, including our recommendations for local leaders interested in protecting what makes Taylor County special.
On May 30, 2024, A listening session was held in downtown Perry to encourage two-way dialogue between Taylor County community members and 1000 Friends of Florida about current economic struggles of the county, the state of the timber industry, and how to protect this region’s rural quality of life while promoting economic development. We thank residents who participated and encourage we keep this dialogue open. Please click the button to the right and share the anonymous survey with anyone who may not have been able to attend.
Following the listening session, 1000 Friends launched a community survey to gauge Taylor County residents’ thoughts on the future of “The Tree Capital of the South.” To review survey results, visit the Survey Monkey results page here.
Maps
