Author : Sebastian Hilpl
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (14 download)
Book Synopsis Florida Ranchlands by : Sebastian Hilpl
Download or read book Florida Ranchlands written by Sebastian Hilpl and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Florida ranches are complex systems operated within thin economic margins. Hardships often result in putting ranching operations out of business, and the ranch land being sold to development (Main, 2004). The economic, cultural, and environmental value Florida ranches offer benefits all of Florida’s citizens (Main, 2004). Population growth in Florida has resulted in increasing real estate values, making profitable ranch operations more difficult. Developers offers to purchase land become more appealing to ranch families as making a profit off the land becomes more difficult (Main, 2004). Nonetheless, ranching families have had this lifestyle instilled in them for generations, and many hope to pass on the lifestyle and land to future generations in lieu of selling out to developers (Gewin, 2020). One means of saving family land is for Florida ranchers to diversify sources of income in hopes of sustaining the ranch operation and lifestyle. The economic, cultural, and environmental value Florida ranches offer benefits all of Florida’s citizens, and avoiding the ecological degradation and cultural loss experienced when cattle ranches are lost to development enhances life throughout the state (Main, 2004). Federal, state, and local incentives, cost share, and easement programs are available to ranchers in return for the ecosystem services provided (The Florida Conservation Group, 2021). The implementation of these programs has the potential to attract and foster habitat for dozens of fish and wildlife species, improve and maintain the aesthetic value of the ranch landscape, aid in mitigating many water management issues plaguing the state, and make a lasting impact across regional landscapes and the entire state (Gewin, 2020). The process for enrollment in these conservation programs is often competitive and time consuming, making it difficult for landowners to navigate the various funding opportunities (The Florida Conservation Group, 2021). Ranchers need a guiding voice to navigate policy and funding opportunities and its application to the individualized ranch landscape. Design and management implications resulting from these programs need to be further explored so that both the rancher and environment benefit (Boughton et al, 2019). Further, how these programs translate to site scale design and benefits to the environment and rancher have been under-explored and under-documented. How can landscape architects be involved and become leaders in innovative strategies for the continued operation of working Florida cattle ranches? To address this question, I will focus on the ranch site scale, explore what these interventions look like on site, how a landscape architect’s diverse skill sets and knowledge can contribute to these projects, and examine the inherent benefits they provide toward creating an economically and environmentally sustainable ranch operation. It is my belief that Landscape Architects possess the skillset, knowledge, and thought process to identify interventions on ranch operations which may not have been identified by other disciplines or stakeholders currently involved. Identified interventions can be funded through the leveraging of public funding and payment for ecosystem services, to help plan for Florida’s ranching future. Through coordinating cross disciplinary collaborations on ranch projects and illustrating a long-term vision for ranch lands, landscape architects can maximize their potential in terms of both ranch operation profitability and ecosystem services provided by the landscape. I will begin with a literature review briefly recounting Florida’s history of cattle ranching, then explain the fundamentals of cattle ranching in the state and highlight the ecosystem services provided by ranches in Florida. I will then introduce readers to federal, state, and local programs available to ranchers to sustain their ranch operations both economically and ecologically. I will highlight landscape architects’ historic involvement in similar projects and perform case studies from relevant projects where lessons learned can inform design and management decisions on Florida ranches. This information will be used to inform a mock design, management, and planning proposal applied to an example Florida ranch. A discussion section will reflect on the lessons learned and future steps for furthering the landscape architect’s role in the design, management, and conservation of Florida’s ranchlands.
