North Florida Land Trust acquires another piece of property on Big Talbot Island

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Dec. 6, 2016 - PRLog -- North Florida Land Trust has received a charitable land donation on Big Talbot Island from Charles Chupp. The donation is 6.43 acres of environmentally sensitive and pristine land on the very northern tip of the island and at the edge of Big Talbot Island State Park.

"We are very grateful for Mr. Chupp's donation, which keeps Diane Joy Milam Dennis' dream of protecting all of the privately-owned land on Big Talbot alive," said Jim McCarthy, Executive Director of NFLT. "We have now protected nearly 1100 acres on Big Talbot. There are seven more land owners and ten more parcels that we are interested in acquiring and protecting on the island."

The property near Big Talbot Island State Park is unique because of its surrounding state parks and the Nassau Inlet. Many rare forms of wildlife can be found in the area including dozens of migrating shorebirds, nesting sea turtles, and one of the rarest species of birds in the U.S., the piping plover. The piping plover species, which is found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, is considered endangered due to habitat destruction and disturbance by people. Recent surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimate the Atlantic population at fewer than 2,000 pairs.

Part of the property donated by Chupp connects to Spoonbill Pond, which hosts a high concentration of wildlife. It is common to see hundreds of wading birds and American white pelicans roosting at the pond and surrounding trees. Visitors will be able to enjoy the property and its bird-watching opportunities from the Timucuan Trail, which runs the length of the island.

Chupp, a real estate investor and developer, is the second developer that NFLT has concluded a deal with in just one week. Last Wednesday, NFLT purchased 206 acres of land in St. Johns County from Fletcher Davis Management Company. McCarthy said he hopes there are many more of these types of acquisitions in the future.

About North Florida Land Trust

North Florida Land Trust is a non-profit organization who serves as a champion of environmental protection primarily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. NFLT was founded in 1999 and has protected thousands of acres of environmentally significant land including land at Big Talbot Island, the River Branch Preserve, Pumpkin Hill State Park, Moccasin Slough, along the St. Mary's River and other valued natural areas in Northeast Florida.  NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with private landowners and other public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.  For more information, visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org.