In 1998, Sarasota County citizens voted to approve the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP), a taxpayer-funded program  to acquire and protect natural lands in Sarasota County.

Lands of critical habitat, wildlife corridors and fragile water bodies are acquired by the county government and placed into a protection program.  Many preserves will have public access for nature-based recreation.

From 1998-2004, Sarasota County purchased 22 tracks of land--a total of 14,000 acres--to protect as community preserves. "These lands provide vital nesting and foraging habitats for wading birds and many other animals," explains Brooke Elias, project scientist.

Sarasota County partners with The Nature Conservancy to evaluate environmental land acquisitions. A nine-member oversight committee comprised of community representatives oversees the purchase of these lands and ensures the use of the land for the good of the public.

Sarasota County's Environmentally Sensitive Lands provide safe habitat for many threatened and native species including gopher tortoises, Florida scrub jays, bobcats, eagles and migrant birds. Acquisition and protection of these lands now ensures that their environmentally sensitive nature and habitats will be there for future generations.

For more information on the SR 776 Corridor Plan, contact Belinda Perry at 941-951-6230.

Educational Partnerships: Research on Environmentally Sensitive Lands
Read about a high school environmental science class conducting research at Red Bug Slough.

Sarasota County Parks and Preserves
Visit some of the unique natural habitat preserved by Sarasota County.