Beginning in 1994, the Florida Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) embarked on a cooperative Cost-Share program to improve and enhance public lands across the State. Funding for the program is somewhat simplistic in nature, in which the NWTF and FWCC match available dollars in order to fund numerous habitat enhancement projects on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s) in each of the State’s five Regions. Typically, these habitat projects involve work such as: mowing, prescribed burning, roller-chopping, and planting wildlife openings. In addition, these monies are also used for conducting turkey research and monitoring turkey populations.
Where does the money come from you ask ? The NWTF project dollars are raised by our more than 70 local Chapters, representing over 18,000 members, that host annual fund raising events called Hunting Heritage Banquets. In turn, these Superfund dollars are then managed by the FL State Chapter Board of Directors and put back into our local communities through a variety of programs in addition to the NWTF / FWCC Cost-Share including: Student Scholarships, Archery in the Schools Program, Hunter Safety, Education, Jakes Days, Women in the Outdoors events, and Wheelin Sportsmen events, just to name a few. In contrast, the matching FWCC dollars for the Cost-Share program are generated from the annual sale of turkey permits, which are required for any hunter hunting turkeys in FL ($5 for residents; $100 for non-residents).
Cost-share projects are primarily focused on State WMA’s, but habitat projects also occur on Federal lands such as National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and even Department of Defense properties. Although projects are designed to primarily benefit the wild turkey, many other game and non-game species also benefit from the habitat improvement work. During the first year of the program, six projects on six WMA’s were funded totaling $7,732, whereas in 2008-09, thirty-five projects on 22 WMA’s were funded totaling $264,303, with a total program value of more than $670,000 for habitat management. The phenomenal growth of this program speaks for itself, and is a true testament to the commitment of both the NWTF volunteers and the FWCC to improving habitat on public lands across the State. To date, the NWTF / FWCC cost-share program has generated nearly one-million dollars, involving 312 habitat projects throughout the State. Moreover, the Cost-Share program continues to grow in total number of habitat projects, WMA’s affected, and total dollars allocated each year, making it one of the best partnership programs within the State.
As this Cost-Share program moves into its sixteenth year, we must remember that true success cannot always be measured by numbers or monetary means. Inherent in each successful project, are immeasurable values such as the countless hours of time and energy donated by NWTF volunteers, NWTF State Board members, FWCC personnel, and the public; who will continue to be the driving force in the growth of this great program for years to come!