The North Florida Land Trust is asking donors to join the trust to meet a $100,000 match issued by lead donors to the Amelia Forever Campaign.
The nonprofit land conservation organization started the campaign in 2019 to raise money to acquire the remaining natural spaces that exist on Amelia Island. The acquisitions would ensure the land would be preserved forever, according to the trust.
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“This is an opportunity to double the impact of your donations to save the wildlands on Amelia Island,” said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT in an email to WJCT News. “These lands are precious, and we need to preserve them today to make sure they are still here tomorrow. We have identified more than 450 acres of vital lands that are still in need of protection. We hope you will help us achieve these goals.”
NFLT has been working with the City of Fernandina Beach to preserve natural lands and is currently raising money to purchase a 3.1-acre property that will protect a maritime hammock forest that buffers Egan’s Creek Greenway to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
NFLT said preserving it will prevent two large homes from being built along the greenway and protect the habitats of wildlife including wading birds, gopher tortoises and bobcats. It would also provide public access to trails connecting two neighborhoods to the beach, according to the trust.
The city of Fernandina will pay half of the total cost and NFLT will pay the remaining 50 percent through donations from the community. Donations can be made to help reach the $100,000 goal by mailing a check with Amelia Forever in the memo to NFLT to 843 W. Monroe Street, Jacksonville FL 32202. Donors can also give online at www.nflt.org/ameliaforever or contact Genevieve Fletcher at gfletcher@NFLT.org or (904) 479-1962.
