MMM. REGULATION, MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE
Many species of wildlife protected by state and federal law are found throughout Florida’s diverse landscape. The regulation of activities impacting imperiled wildlife species impacts most development activities. Many of these species spend some if not all of their life-cycles on land that is or has been historically managed for agriculture and silviculture. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission both recognize that agriculture provides a valuable benefit to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife in the state and have developed best management practices that reflect the industry’s existing contribution to the conservation and management of aquatic life and wildlife in Florida. Properly implemented BMPs can exempt agricultural and silvicultural lands from certain imperiled species permitting guidelines, and the Commission is in the process of developing guidelines for a wide range of other state imperiled species where such BMPs may also play a role. The Commission has also recently completed an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would allow the Commission to issue permits for the “take” of federally listed species instead of the Service. The members of this panel have been actively involved in the development and implementation of these important wildlife practices, policies, and guidelines. The panel will review current imperiled species guideline development, the development and implementation of the best management practices and how the guidelines and best management practices could affect the use of agricultural and other land in Florida and the southeastern United States. The panel will also address different approaches for landowners and agencies to comply with federal law such as safe harbor agreements, habitat exchanges, and conservation banks.