Grassroots environmental group targets first lot purchase in South Gulf Cove on Cape Haze
NORTH PORT – A leading grassroots nonprofit that buys residential land for conservation is raising funds for its latest purchase, which would expand its reach into South Gulf Cove, just outside of a Scrub-jay protection zone in Charlotte County.
The Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas needs $10,500 to close by March 31 on the purchase of what would be the 44th parcel it has preserved.
The Allentown Avenue site's total price is $20,500 but the nonprofit launched the effort after receiving a $10,000 donation that can only be used to buy land.
Barbara Lockhart, president of the nonprofit conservancy's board of directors, said the parcel is notable because it would be the first one preserved in South Gulf Cove and was chosen by a nomination from the public through a form on the conservancy's web site.
Submissions are reviewed and scored though for all 43 parcels, which represents about 13.5 acres, 'the key is there has to be a willing seller.'
Lockhart said the conservancy started the form to give people more of a say into where it should concentrate its preservation efforts.
South Gulf Cove is a subdivision built by the General Development Corp. about 50 years ago on the Cape Haze peninsula that shapes Charlotte Harbor. The environment there includes habitat for Florida Scrub-jays, the only bird unique to Florida. It requires sandy, dry land with low-growing shrubs.
'What's unique about it is we haven't done any acquisitions there,' Lockhart added, referencing South Gulf Cove.
The quarter-acre is just outside of Charlotte County's Scrub-jay protection zone and has one active gopher tortoise nest.
'There are Scrub-jays in the neighborhood,' Lockhart said. 'The neighbors confirmed it, the owner confirmed it.'
Both gopher tortoises and Scrub-jays are threatened species. Gopher tortoises are relocated but Scrub-jays are not.
Charlotte County's Scrub-jay conservation plan requires builders to pay a fee to clear lots in the zone.
Those fees are used to buy land in eastern Charlotte County to preserve Scrub-jay habitat.
The conservancy targets parcels such as the one in South Gulf Cove to provide 'stepping stone' habitats for the resident jays.
Donations can be made: Via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/preserve-south-gulf-coves-nature-today; or Via Venmo at @NPconservancy or via PayPal its website: https://www.ecnorthport.com.
Checks are also accepted, made payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mailed to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286.
The nonprofit started in the spring of 2020 in North Port, targeting Florida Scrub-jay habitat and quickly expanded to include land in unincorporated Sarasota and Charlotte counties, started in the spring of 2020 in North Port.
The closing of its most recent purchase, on Wendy Terrace in North Port, closed under the radar last September, as the region dealt with the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
That lot diagonally abuts another on Chris Terrace – a parcel the conservancy purchased in February and effectively doubled the amount of 'stepping-stone' habitat preserved off of Chamberlain Boulevard.
Last August it purchased a parcel in Englewood that was prime habitat for Florida Scrub-jay and gopher tortoises.
To date the conservancy oversees 18 parcels in North Port, two of which were donated; three parcels in Port Charlotte, one of which was donated; 13 parcels in Harbour Heights, one of which was donated; six parcels in El Jobean, all of which were donated; two parcels in Deep Creek and one in the Charlotte County area of Englewood.
In addition to purchasing land, the all-volunteer board allocates funds to maintain the properties and trail cameras to monitor wildlife. It has also conducted limited tours of some of the preserved parcels.
More information is at https://ecnorthport.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ECnorthport.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Grassroots preservation group seeks to buy one lot in South Gulf Cove
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