MISSION STATEMENT:
We acquire and permanently conserve neighborhood land in North Port AND Surrounding Areas for preservation of, and education and research about, neighborhood wildlife, native plants, trees and soil as our population continues to grow at a rapid pace.
In other words, WE SAVE NEIGHBORHOOD NATURE.
[We are not an advocacy entity]
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ACQUISITION SUCCESS:
38 parcels acquired as of 2/29/2024 totaling about 12 acres:
North Port - 17 (2 donated; 15 purchased)
Port Charlotte - 2 (1 purchased, 1 donated)
Harbour Heights - 11 total (1 donated; 10 purchased)
El Jobean - 6 total (donated)
Deep Creek - 2 total (purchased)
$247,550 was raised through public donations for the purchases.
We receive no City, County, State or Federal funding.
We are working on expanding into Englewood, South Venice and Rotonda/Gulf Cove at least during 2024.
We first launched our neighborhood land conservation mission within the City of North Port in the Spring of 2020. The concept of neighborhood land conservation was a very foreign one to many at that time so we wanted to keep our initial effort small, but it was always the goal to expand into Sarasota and Charlotte Counties.
In summary, we are open to acquiring land in ANY neighborhood in, AND beyond, North Port and subsequently added the "And Surrounding Areas" verbiage to our name to let our supporters know.
To us, any natural neighborhood greenspace, no matter its size, is worth saving!
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OVERALL BENEFITS OF PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOOD LAND (NATURE):
Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna, especially threatened species such as the Gopher Tortoise and Florida Scrub-jay.
Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.