The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), in partnership with the Clay County Board of County Commissioners, conducted several public workshops in the spring of 2023 to gather input on conservation priorities. The first workshop was held with the Board of County Commissioners on January 24, 2023. Additional workshops for county residents took place in Keystone Heights, Middleburg, and Green Cove Springs during April 2023, along with an online survey conducted in May and June 2023. Feedback from both county residents and the Board was incorporated into the NFLT’s final report, which was presented to the Board on October 10, 2023.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance to establish a new program for Clay County called the Forests and Farms Conservation Lands Program (FFCLP). This ordinance creates a new section of the Code of Ordinance, providing a framework for the program's operations. The primary goal of the program is to protect irreplaceable natural environments and resources in Clay County by acquiring lands and conservation easements and managing them through responsible stewardship.

A conservation referendum was included on the ballot for the 2024 general election. The referendum authorizes the County to issue bonds totaling up to $45 million for two main purposes: (1) the purchase of qualifying lands and conservation easements for the conservation program, and (2) funding an operating budget to meet the annual land management needs of the properties acquired by the program. Residents of Clay County approved the referendum, with 72.9% voting in favor.

On May 13, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners appointed the first members to the newly created Land Conservation Committee (LCC). The members fill eleven seats and serve 2, 3 and 4 year terms. Four of the seats are filled by members with experience in the agricultural field. Four of the seats are filled by members with experience in the environmental sciences. And three of the seats are filled by residents with experience as conservation volunteers.

Future Activities
We anticipate that the following activities will take place over the course of the coming year: