The Ecological Network integrates and connects existing conservation areas and currently unprotected areas of high ecological significance, and this information can be used in concert with other information on conservation priorities to develop a more integrated regional landscape protection strategy. For more information, see:
The Florida Greenways Project Final Report, Phase II Carr, Margaret H., Paul D. Zwick, Thomas S. Hoctor and Mark A. Benedict. Departments of Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida.
For a detailed description of this section, visit:
<http://www.geoplan.ufl.edu/projects/greenways/finalreport.html#sect3>.
It should also be considered that this dataset is at a resolution of 180 meters (180 m X 180 m cells), which is approximately 8 acre squares. Therefore, users should not expect great accuracy at high resolutions. The modeling and identification effort of a statewide ecological network is intended to serve as a general basis for state level conservation planning. It may serve as an adequate framework or guide for regional and local conservation planning efforts, but it should be supplemented by more resolute datasets and analyses especially at the local level. The conservation/land protection process should also always include ground-truthing to evaluate sites in the field. In addition, this data is based on land use information that, by its nature, is outdated. An effort was made to update land use data provided by the Water Management Districts, mostly completed in 1990, by comparing this data with 1994-1995 SPOT 10 meter resolution imagery. All areas that appeared to be converted to development (residential, commercial, industrial but not including conversion to intensive agriculture) were added to avoid identifying areas as ecologically significant that are now developed. However, it should be obvious that development continues at a rapid pace, and areas identified in the model results could now be converted to intensive land uses or could be converted in the near future.
Scale is an important factor in data usage. Certain scale data sets are not suitable for some projects, analysis, or modeling purposes. Please be sure you are using the best available data.
1:24000 scale data sets are recommended for projects that are at the county level. 1:24000 data should NOT be used for high accuracy base mapping such as property parcel boundaries.
1:100000 scale data sets are recommended for projects that are at the multi-county or regional level. 1:250000 scale data sets are recommended for projects that are at the regional or state level or larger.
Pursuant to Chapter 260.0141 Florida Statutes: The Opportunities as illustrated by this data layer are intended to establish an informational framework for voluntary participation by citizens, private property owners and all levels of government subject to the following limitations:
1. The data does not require or empower any unit of local government, regional government or any state agency to impose additional or more restrictive environmental, land use or zoning regulations.
2. The data may not be construed or cited as authority to adopt, enforce or amend any environmental regulation or statute, zoning, or land use ordinance or any other rule, regulation or ordinance by any subdivision of local, regional or state government.
3. The data may not be used as the basis for permit denial; imposition of any permit condition; or application of any rule, regulation or ordinance by any subdivision of local, regional or state government.
4. Government agencies may not reduce or restrict the rights of private owners as a result of private lands being identified by this data.
5. No private lands will be considered as designated greenways or trails pursuant to Section 260.018, Florida Statutes, unless the owner of such lands has voluntarily and explicitly agreed in writing to such designation.
6. The reliability of this data layer is limited by the resolution and timeliness of the underlying data and information.
7. Identification of named, existing or proposed public lands is solely for planning purposes and not for regulatory purposes. The actual line delineating the boundary of such properties is as designated by the applicable state, federal or regional agency which boundary for all purposes shall take precedence over any mapping as contained herein. Better site-specific data, if available, for any features or resources shown on this map should be used to identify whether any such resources are, in fact, present on that site.
Some of the Implementation Opportunities in the Southwest DEP District occur in areas being actively mined for phosphate or for which mining is planned. These mining activities are subject to numerous regulatory requirements within the overall mining/ reclamation approval process that may or may not result in lands suitable for inclusion in the greenways and trails system. Designation of phosphate lands as part of the statewide system shall occur only if agreed to by the landowner/mining company and DEP.
Additional lands, particularly in the Northeast region of the state, have been requested to be removed from future depictions of the statewide system. The Department of Environmental Protection will make every effort to obtain the data and boundary information necessary to honor these requests.
Since its creation GWMTRL has been edited for accuracy and content by GeoPlan Center staff, DEP Office of Greenways and Trails personnel, and Regional Greenways Task Force volunteers. The final version is considered a vision of potential multi-use that will be part of a network of multi-use trails throughout the state of Florida. It was digitized from hand drawn maps created by GeoPlan and DEP Staff, then edited to remove all the trails that overlayed private landowner property that did not wish to participate.