FWC recognizes DeSoto County landowner for wildlife conservation efforts

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently recognized the outstanding wildlife habitat management efforts of Gene Paul as part of the agency’s Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program. Paul owns Tippen Bay Ranch in rural DeSoto County, a 2,900-acre property that provides quality habitat for white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, Florida scrub-jay and gopher tortoises, as well as many other native wildlife species. The ranch, long held by the Paul family, consists primarily of native habitats such as, Florida dry prairie (a rare and declining habitat type across the state), pine flatwoods, hardwood swamps and emergent wetlands.

Paul began working with the FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program in 2010, with the goal of improving habitat for native wildlife on the ranch. Landowner Assistance Program biologists developed a habitat management plan for the property and, throughout the years, have worked closely with Paul and his dedicated staff to implement the plan. Using a combination of brush management, prescribed burning, and invasive plant control, ranch staff succeeded in restoring degraded and fire-suppressed natural communities, creating a matrix of high-quality wildlife habitat across the ranch. Wildlife presence on the ranch has since increased dramatically as a direct result of habitat improvement.

The entire ranch was recently placed under conservation easement, ensuring that the property will be protected in perpetuity. As part of an adaptive management approach, Paul and his staff have frequently consulted with the FWC between 2010 and the present to ensure that their habitat management strategies continually improve as conditions change. This unique long-term relationship between Tippen Bay Ranch and the FWC has produced high quality results for wildlife and serves as an example of what can be accomplished through cooperative work between private landowners and the Landowner Assistance Program in achieving wildlife conservation goals.

Private and public lands provide the habitat necessary to maintain sustainable wildlife populations. The efforts of private landowners in managing their own land to benefit wildlife and their habitat compliments the efforts of public agencies and is critical to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience and enjoy wildlife in their native habitat. Without private landowner efforts, countless plant and animal species would be at risk of significant population declines, which could result in them becoming listed on state or federal threatened and endangered species lists.

To show appreciation for the work done by landowners to conserve our state’s wildlife habitat, the FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program created the Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program, formally honoring landowners by awarding them with a sign to display on their property and a certificate recognizing their habitat conservation efforts.

Private lands play a critical role in wildlife conservation by protecting and restoring rare habitats, such as the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem, and by managing farms, ranches and forests that provide habitat to many species. While public land protects many species of wildlife, these properties form a fragmented landscape of habitat. Private lands connect these islands of public conservation land and provide critical habitat linkages and corridors necessary for many species to thrive.

FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program offers a written management plan to guide landowners interested in working toward meeting the requirements for the Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program. Interested landowners of 20 acres or more can apply online. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/LAP and click on “Landowner Recognition Programs.”

FWC Landowner Assistance Program biologists provide technical assistance to private landowners, helping them develop management plans for their property that maximize benefits to wildlife and people. These biologists can also assist with finding financial assistance to complete important habitat restoration projects on private lands. To learn more about this program or to find help and resources for managing wildlife on your property, check out our “Wildlife and Habitat Assistance” section online at, MyFWC.com/LAP or call your FWC Regional Office and ask to speak to a LAP biologist.