Florida's Ancient Islands Home Ancient Islands Shifting Sands Why Save Species? Working Together: Human Activity What Shapes the Ridge? From Scrub to Creek: The Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Working Group How You Can Help Protect the Ridge Whom to Call PeopleProfile Acknowledgements Working Together: A Patchwork of Private and Public Ownership
Volunteers
More than 200 volunteer are active on the Ridge helping to care for the region's unique natural resources.
Because private, state and federal organizations and individual citizens are working together, some of the best examples of native habitats on the Lake Wales Ridge are being saved for future generations.
CUSTODIANS OF NATURAL HERITAGE AND HISTORY
Preservation of the Lake Wales Ridge, its cultural and natural heritage, will be accomplished through partnerships between private landowners and land held in public trust. Private landowners own the vast majority of land in Florida and are custodians of the largest collection of remaining natural resources. Farmers and ranchers in the state need the land and its resources to survive. Many value natural ecosystems as part of the Florida they want to preserve.
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"Since the property has been in the family for generations, it was attractive to sell it to the state to ensure that it will be preserved and properly managed in perpetuity."

Jim Brooks, General Manager
Reflections on Silver Lake, Avon Park, FL